Santi Cazorla, the former Arsenal and Spain midfielder, announces his retirement from football at age 41. Multiple outlets report that the decision comes after a long playing career spanning more than two decades. The reports say he returns to Real Oviedo in recent seasons and concludes his career there.
Cazorla’s career includes a six-year spell at Arsenal from 2012 to 2018, during which he wins the FA Cup twice. Other clubs mentioned across the coverage include Villarreal and Malaga, along with the start of his professional career at Oviedo in 2001. One outlet also notes that Cazorla previously faced a serious injury problem and “almost lost his foot,” referring to the challenges he overcame before returning to play.
According to Yahoo Sports, after choosing to come back, Cazorla earns the minimum salary allowed by the league and donates his image rights to the club, a step described in a statement from Oviedo. The Athletic frames the retirement as the end of a 25-year career, with Cazorla saying he “never stopped trying.”
