Cazorla Set for Fairytale Final Season with Real Oviedo

Cazorla Ready for Fairytale Finish After Son’s Words of Inspiration

As Santi Cazorla, 40, gears up for the final season of his illustrious career with boyhood club Real Oviedo, he carries with him the voice of his 15-year-old son Enzo — the voice that urged him to keep going when the pain seemed insurmountable.

Cazorla’s journey has been nothing short of miraculous. Once told he should be grateful just to walk again, after a severe ankle injury led to 11 surgeries, gangrene, and nearly cost him his leg, Cazorla defied the odds to return to the pitch. His inspiration? His family.

“My son would say, ‘No daddy, please try again – I want to see you playing again,’” Cazorla told BBC Sport.

That determination led him back to Villarreal, then home to Oviedo — the club he left in 2003 before ever playing a senior match. Now, after helping them gain La Liga promotion for the first time in 24 years, Cazorla will end his career where it all began.

From Despair to Destiny

During his 636 days out of football, Cazorla battled infection that destroyed 11cm of his Achilles. Doctors reconstructed the area using skin from his forearm — tattooed with his daughter’s name — and warned him he’d likely never play again.

But Cazorla never accepted that fate.

“If you have a dream, you have to fight every day,” he said.

That resolve brought him back to Villarreal in 2018 after Arsenal declined to offer a new deal. Though he pleaded for a pre-season trial to prove himself, the Gunners declined — but he holds no grudge and still cherishes his time in North London.

“If Arsenal call me, my door is open,” he added. “It was the best decision of my career to go there.”

Full Circle with Oviedo

Cazorla joined Oviedo aged 8. Now, in the twilight of his career, he’s fulfilled a childhood dream. He signed a one-year contract three weeks ago, collecting the minimum league wage of £80,000 per year, with 10% of his shirt sales donated to the club’s academy.

His impact was crucial in Oviedo’s return to the top flight. A free-kick goal against Almeria and a penalty in the comeback win over Mirandes led to play-off success in their centenary year.

His first La Liga match back? A symbolic visit to Villarreal. The first home game? Real Madrid.

A Humble Legend

Despite his accolades — two European Championships with Spain, 180 appearances for Arsenal, and being Oviedo’s modern-day symbol — Cazorla remains grounded.

“I don’t feel like a symbol. I only try to help the young players and the club. I prefer to be remembered as a person rather than a player,” he said.

Oviedo fans now wear club shirts with pride — something Cazorla dreamt of changing. His influence extends beyond the pitch, sparking renewed support in the city for their local club.

He even joined fans in singing the team’s anthem by Oviedo-born Melendi at the promotion party — a testament to his deep connection to the club.

“When you’re old, you try to enjoy everything,” he said with a smile. “Before, I never thought about these things. Now, I appreciate every moment.”

Cazorla’s farewell season is more than a final chapter — it’s a story of resilience, humility, and homecoming. A footballing fairytale written by pain, passion, and persistence.