Arsenal Midfielder Eyes La Liga Return

0

Embed from Getty Images

Having lost the last two years of his career due to injury, Arsenal midfielder Santi Cazorla, 33, is set to return to his first club Villarreal reports the Sunday Mirror.

The mercurial Spaniard is out of contract this summer and the north London club, having nursed him back to fitness, are letting him leave the Emirates on a free transfer so he can prolong his playing career.

Cazorla, hugely popular with fans and players alike, received the biggest cheer of the day when he was seen jogging around the Emirates pitch before the recent 4 – 1 drubbing of West Ham United.

However, despite Arsene Wenger’s desire to see him wear the red and white shirt once more, medical advice stopped Cazorla playing before the end of the season.

With the Frenchman gone, a ruthless streak is emerging from the club with half-a-dozen coaching and backroom staff also released. Cazorla has been told that a new contract is not going to be offered.

Cazorla made his professional debut with Villarreal in a 1 – 0 win over Deportivo La Coruna in November 2003. The Yellow Submarine are taking the former Spain international on pre-season training with a view to re-signing one of the most technically gifted players of his generation.

If that move doesn’t work out, soon-to-be newly-appointed Arsenal head coach Mikel Arteta is believed to want his compatriot to form part of his coaching staff when he takes over at the Emirates this week.