What happened to ex Arsenal midfielder Santi Cazorla and where is he now?
SANTI Cazorla is a Spanish footballer who became a core member of Arsenal.
The attacking midfielder was ranked one of the best footballers in Europe by Bloomberg.
Who is Santi Cazorla?
Cazorla was born on December 13, 1984, in Llanera, Asturias, Spain.
His full name is Santiago Cazorla González.
At a young age, he showed a key interest in football and began a professional career in 2003 at Villarreal after proving his abilities at his hometown club, Real Oviedo.
He soon became the club’s standout player earning him Spain’s Footballer of the Year Award.
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Cazorla then moved to La Liga side Málaga in a club-record £18.2m (€21m) deal.
He quickly gained a strong reputation among sporting elites for his impressive skills of both speed and shooting accuracy.
He then moved to Premier League side Arsenal for a fee of £10m in 2011/12.
Cazorla helped to end Arsenal’s nine-year trophy drought registering thirteen assists at his first year at the club.
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He was awarded Arsenal Player of the Season and scored a nail-biting free kick in the 2014 FA Cup Final providing a lifeline for the Gunners.
Arsenal went on to snatch victory beating Hull City 3-2.
He has 81 caps for Spain under his belt, with 15 goals.
When did Santi Cazorla leave Arsenal?
Cazorla’s contract with Arsenal expired in May 2018.
A statement on Arsenal’s official website hailed the Spaniard as “an integral part of the team” citing he was “one of the most technically gifted players in the Premier League”.
What happened to Santi Cazorla?
Injuries plagued much of Cazorla’s football career which saw him play with a cracked bone during an international friendly between Spain and Chile in 2013.
In 2016 he underwent surgery to the damaged ankle but was struck with an infection further complicating his recovery.
This would unfortunately become a running theme for Cazorla who endured a number of reopened wounds, gangrene and bacterial bug infections.
One such infection had eaten away at his Achilles tendon spreading to the bone and putting him in danger of losing his leg.
Since his original injury, Cazorla had a total of 10 operations including one skin-graft procedure which removed flesh from his left forearm removing his tattoo dedicated to his daughter India.
Where is Santi Cazorla now?
Cazorla has not been back in England since leaving Arsenal yet still dreams “to play more and more years” for the Gunners.
He returned to his former club Villarreal, becoming the highest-scoring midfielder in their history and receiving a standing ovation.
He moved to Qatar Stars League side Al Sadd in 2020.
He scored a breathtaking goal on his debut for the club.
Is Santi Cazorla married and does he have any children?
Cazorla is married to Ursula Santirso and has a son, Enzo, and a daughter, India.
He also has three dogs, one named after Swedish footballer Zlatan.
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What is Santi Cazorla's net worth?
According to various sources, Cazorla has a net worth of £17.5m ($22m).
Cazorla owns a number of properties and high-end sports cars.