Santi Cazorla plans to end his playing career by taking his boyhood club, Real Oviedo, to La Liga after 23 years. The experienced Spaniard missed the last three games due to a muscle injury and all of them were against Eibar (the last round and then the playoffs). Even though he is injured, he is very important in the dressing room. Cazorla’s absence and the loss in the last round did not dishearten Oviedo, but the first game of the playoffs at their home turf ended goalless. However, with yesterday’s 2-0 victory, they eliminated Eibar, and in the final of the promotion playoffs, Oviedo will face the winner of the Espanyol and Sporting Gijon clash.Lehmann: ‘Without Arsenal, I wouldn’t have played for Germany’If Santi wants to become a coach, the Gunners keep the door open for him, and after he hangs up his football boots, the 39-year-old midfielder could move to London. He first expressed his desire to return to Arsenal in 2022, and continued mentioning his wish in the following years, so in April he repeated his ambitions during an interview with The Guardian, and also commented on the current squad and his former Arsenal teammate, Mikel Arteta.”I really want to go back. I owe them a lot, they hold a special place. I also have a great friend there. Mikel has changed their mentality. When I was there, something was missing. Mikel changed that and they have an incredible squad. I love Ødegaard and see myself in him: like him, I found a coach (Arsène Wenger) who gave me confidence. He made me captain before I could say “hola” in English. Declan Rice reminds me of Aaron Ramsey, appearing everywhere, a brutal player,” said Cazorla.🔹Santi Cazorla, a former Arsenal player, might come back to the team as a coach. He’s friends with the current coach, Mikel Arteta, and they’ve talked about it.🔹But for now, Cazorla is focused on playing for his current team, Oviedo. He wants to keep enjoying football as a… pic.twitter.com/sRtgHPpazl— Arsenal Techy👩💻 (@immatechy) June 10, 2024 Furthermore, speaking for Sky Sports, Santi also confirmed that he had talked to Arsenal manager about joining the the club as a coach, but stated that he is focused on Oviedo and that the eventual decision would have to wait.”I have a very special affection for Arsenal. I spent six wonderful years there and I know how much all the people love me there. Of course, I was fortunate to share a dressing room with Mikel Arteta and now he is the manager. We had conversations about that but right now I am not focused on anything other than contributing to this club, Oviedo, and continuing to enjoy football as a player. After that, we will see what the future holds for me. It is clear that Arsenal is a club that has always left the door open to me to return. But right now, I have enough on my mind with the playoffs and trying to enjoy the last days of my playing career,” stated the Spaniard.Cazorla joined Arsenal in 2012 from Malaga for 19 million euros, and he played with Arteta until 2016, when the current Arsenal manager retired. Together, they won two FA Cups and two Community Shield trophies with the Gunners.##NAJAVA_MECA_8158932##
