The two clubs have been active in the summer transfer window, bringing in fresh blood to strengthen their squads, but inevitably everyone’s gaze will be fixed on a certain player who became a legend at both teams. Aged 40, Santi Cazorla returns to the top flight, this time donning the shirt of his boyhood team, which is set to lock horns with the club for whom he has made the most LALIGA EA SPORTS appearances across three spells.
The boy from Asturias who became a legend at Villarreal CF
Cazorla joined Real Oviedo’s academy at the age of eight. A decade later, he departed the Asturian club to sign for El Submarino Amarillo, where he spent three seasons before moving to Recreativo de Huelva. Having taken the league by storm in a season where he started 32 times and scored five goals, Cazorla forced Villarreal CF to sign him back before offering him a six-year deal in 2008. “I am very happy to stay here because I consider this club to be my home,” said Cazorla. “What was most important was that the club showed that I am important to them. I did not have to think for long about things.”
What followed is history, as Cazorla went on to become a fan favourite following some extraordinary outings at the Estadio de la Cerámica, featuring in over 120 league games during his second stint. A transfer to Málaga CF was followed by a move to Arsenal, where he stood out with his performances before a serious injury threatened to put an end to his career. Cazorla underwent multiple surgeries, remaining sidelined for almost two years before an old love came knocking on his door. Villarreal CF announced Cazorla’s return in the summer of 2018, amidst uncertainty about his fitness.
As many as 668 days had passed when he made his return to action in a game against Real Sociedad, showing that it was anything but over for him. “I feel like a footballer again, it’s really special,” Cazorla noted. “It has been a really promising few months and the help from everyone during that time will remain with me for the rest of my life. Many people have given me the strength to carry on. Coming on in a match was almost unthinkable 20 months ago and now I just want to find the rhythm to play football regularly as it is what I love.”
And what he loves he did. The former Spain international featured in 59 league games in which he scored 15 goals before a move to Qatari side Al-Sadd. Three years later, Cazorla was presented with a commemorative submarine for being voted by the fans as a member of the Villarreal CF Historic XI.
Coming back home to Asturias
When everything indicated that Cazorla may hang up his boots, he decided to return to his boyhood club with one special mission in mind: bringing Real Oviedo back to the top flight. Having asked to sign on the minimum wage, Cazorla made clear that he wanted to see the Asturians play top-flight football for the first time since 2000/01.
“I would play for free but you’re not allowed,” Cazorla told The Guardian. “They made a good offer. My wife said: ‘No, no, you’re not going to Oviedo to earn money, you’re going home to enjoy it, to help, to give.’ I called my agent: ‘I don’t want any money.’ I told the president: minimum salary, 10 percent of shirt sales to the academy. It was done that night. I’ve been treated so well everywhere – at Arsenal everyone loves me, at Villarreal CF the same, at Recre, at Málaga CF … but the feeling and responsibility is deeper. People called it a step back, nothing to gain, but it’s the complete opposite.”
After leading his team to the LALIGA HYPERMOTION playoff final in his first season, Cazorla netted twice in last term’s terms playoffs, inspiring the Asturian side to the long-awaited promotion. On Friday, Cazorla’s dream of seeing Real Oviedo play in LALIGA EA SPORTS again will come true. And they will do so against a team where he became a legend, setting the stage for a must-watch clash with Villarreal CF.