Cazorla, 41, set for his most special match as Oviedo host Villarreal | OneFootball

At 41, Cazorla is pushing to keep Oviedo in Primera, an arduous but not impossible task. According to El Periódico Mediterráneo, tomorrow brings one of the most special nights of his career, as Oviedo host Villarreal at a packed Carlos Tartiere.

To see why, rewind through a career bound to both clubs. In 2003, with Oviedo bankrupt in Tercera and near collapse, an 18-year-old Cazorla left to join Villarreal’s Tercera side.

His form brought a first-team debut and a role in the Villarreal team that reached the Champions League semi-finals. He then spent a year at Recreativo de Huelva under Marcelino for minutes, shone, and returned to thrive in yellow.

Moves to Málaga and Arsenal followed. In 2018, after eight operations that almost left him unable to walk, he came back for a final flourish with Villarreal. He did not lift the Europa League but was in Gdansk to celebrate the title.

After two years in Qatar, he signed for Oviedo in 2023 on a free, taking the minimum wage. He led them to the promotion play-offs, losing the final to Espanyol, then last year scored in the final against Mirandés to seal a dream ascent.

He then fulfilled the dream of playing Primera football for Oviedo at La Cerámica, where he received a warm tribute. This season has been hard, with three coaches, yet he has appeared in 21 games, especially in second halves, and now prepares to welcome Villarreal.

Source: El Periódico Mediterráneo