Santi Cazorla, La Liga’s elder statesman, refuses a final bow at Oviedo | OneFootball

At 41, Santi Cazorla remains Real Oviedo’s emblem and refuses to call time, set to feature at Anoeta today, the embodiment of persistence and memory. He helped make thousands of fans’ dream real by taking Oviedo back to Primera.

According to Diario Vasco, he cherishes being here after so many experiences, seeing it as a daily gift. He returned in August 2023 from Al-Sadd on a minimum salary and ceded his image rights to promote the youth system.

The two-time European champion with Spain in 2008 and 2012 showed his value on and off the pitch, with goals and assists in last season’s play-offs decisive in a return after 25 years. What looked a swansong became a renewal for one more campaign to tackle the difficult task of consolidating Oviedo in the top flight.

This season he has featured under Veljko Paunovic, Luis Carrión and now Guillermo Almada. He has 14 La Liga appearances totalling 489 minutes, without a goal or assist, managed carefully to provide calm and control in specific phases.

Arsenal fans knew him as the little magician, equally natural with either foot at dead balls, and his influence is measured in poise and oxygenating possession rather than numbers. In 2016 he survived a bacterial infection that ate eight centimetres of ankle tendon while in London, underwent 11 operations and missed 668 days.

His most recent top-flight goal came on 13 July 2020 in Villarreal-Real. With Anoeta hosting at 16:00 today, the hope is that it remains the latest entry.

Source: Diario Vasco