Cazorla To Leave Villarreal At End Of Season

Cazorla will bring the curtain down on his third spell as a Villarreal player when he takes to the field against Eibar at the El Madrigal stadium of Sunday.

Ahead of his final game for the Yellow Submarines, Cazorla said: ‘At the age of 18, they opted to sign a boy from Oviedo who knew no-one. I am proud to be able to finish my career with Bruno [Soriano, who will also play his final game on Sunday).

‘I hope that, as happened with my previous farewell match [when Cazorla left in 2006], it will be a “see you later”.’

The 35-year-old Spain international has shown immense character and fortitude to bounce back from a serious Achilles injury that nearly wrecked his football career two years ago.

One of the most technically gifted midfielders of his generation, Cazorla endured a nightmarish 2-year spell on the sidelines as a series of Achilles surgeries threatened to have his foot amputated.

Cazorla spent six seasons in North London with Arsenal between 2012 and 2018, but failed to make a single appearance for the Gunners in his last 21 months at the club as a result of his achilles injury.

Cazorla joined Villareal for a third spell at the beginning of 2018/2019 season and has gone on to make 69 appearances in the last two La Liga campaigns, scoring 15 goals and earning a recall into the Spain national team.

The former Malaga man was part of Spain’s European championship winning squads of 2008 and 2012.

It is unclear where Cazorla’s next destination will be though he has been linked with Turkish side Besiktas and Qatari outfit Al-Sadd, who are managed by his former international teammate Xavi Hernandez.