Santi Cazorla recalls severe injury: 'I had gangrene in an 11cm area of my foot' | OneFootball

Former Arsenal playmaker Santi Cazorla recalled the ordeal that almost permanently sidelined him from football. In an interview with L'Equipe, the Spanish international reviewed his career and did not shy away from discussing the injury that could have cost him his leg.

It all started in a match for the Spanish national team against Chile in 2013: "I received a blow that fractured a bone in my foot. That's when I started receiving corticosteroid injections to relieve the pain. As time went on, it became unbearable. I was practically playing in tears. I was no longer enjoying it. When I left that day, I told the doctor: 'That's it, we need to find a solution.'"

The current Real Oviedo captain recounted the issues he had with English doctors before placing himself in the hands of Basque orthopedist Mikel Sánchez: "I underwent surgery eleven times without anyone understanding what was going on. When I returned to Spain, I had gangrene in an 11cm area on my foot [Achilles tendon]."

"In England, they told me I could lose my leg from the knee down. My Spanish doctor reassured me. People said he downplayed the severity of the injury. Ultimately, that denial helped keep me optimistic."

However, the player always had the full support of Arsène Wenger, who renewed his contract for a season during his recovery. "I will never forget such a humane gesture," the 40-year-old said.

Cazorla is now back at Real Oviedo – the place where his football career started – and is likely to end his great career at the end of the season. "It's almost certain that this will be my last season. I want to enjoy, cherish these last moments, and take care of myself," he concluded.