Arsenal cult hero Santi Cazorla officially seals free transfer to Al-Sadd after leaving Villarreal this summer
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ARSENAL hero Santi Cazorla has arrived at Al-Sadd, after extending his playing career by signing for the Qatari champions.
In making the switch, Cazorla has reunited with former Spain team-mate Xavi, who manages the Doha side.
Alongside each other as players, the pair tasted World Cup and European Championships glory with La Roja.
And Cazorla, 35, will be hoping to add a few final medals to his impressive collection before eventually calling time on his playing career.
He told the club's official website upon arrival: "It's a great honour to be with the biggest club in Qatar.
"Xavi helped me a lot in my decision to come to Qatar.
"He was a role model for me when I was a player and he is sure to set an example to me as a coach.
"My goal is to win everything with Al-Sadd, you have to strive to win everything.
"I want to thank everyone for their encouragement and continued support to the team and I will strive to help the team every day to reap the victories."
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Cazorla departed Arsenal in 2018 having hardly featured in his final two seasons in North London after suffering an Achilles issue so troublesome that he could have had his foot amputated.
But in returning to Villarreal the creative midfielder enjoyed a wonderful career renaissance, featuring 86 times over the last two seasons and scoring an impressive 22 goals.
His form even earned what had seemed a wholly unlikely international recall - winning four caps in 2019.
He had been linked with making a return to Arsenal as a coach, with boss Mikel Arteta having heaped praise upon his former team-mate.
Arteta said: "My opinion of Santi cannot be any higher. Personally, first, with the type of person he is and what he brings to that dressing room, but then also as a player for what he did throughout his career.
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"About the coaching role and the future, we will see what happens. Right now, he's just finished [at Villarreal] so let him enjoy that moment and we'll see what happens in the future."
As for Xavi, the Catalan legend took the reigns at Al-Sadd after spending the final four years of his playing career in the Qatari capital.
How long he will spend at the helm, however, remains to be seen - with former club Barcelona linked with making a move for their iconic former No6.