This archive report was first published on 20 July 2020.
July 20, 2020 - Villarreal's Spanish midfielder Santi Cazorla celebrates after scoring a goal during the Spanish League football match between Villarreal CF and Real Madrid CF at La Ceramica stadium in Vila-real on January 3, 2019. (Photo by JOSE JORDAN / AFP)
Santi Cazorla, a 35-year-old former Arsenal midfielder, has announced that he will leave Villarreal at the end of the season. The Spanish international bid farewell to the team ahead of their final game of La Liga against Eibar on Sunday.
Cazorla is expected to join Qatari side Al-Sadd, coached by Xavi Hernandez. He has enjoyed a remarkable third spell at Villarreal, overcoming two years of severe injuries to make a successful comeback.
Before joining Villarreal, Cazorla played for Malaga and Recreativo Huelva, and made 180 appearances over six years for Arsenal. He has also earned 81 caps for Spain.
"Villarreal has given me everything," Cazorla said in a video posted by the club on social media. "At 18 they took a punt on a boy from Oviedo who knew nobody."
