Santi Cazorla Reflects on His Career and Overcoming Injury Challenges

omidbasir- Santi Cazorla recently granted an interview to ‘L’Equipe’, where he reflected on his illustrious career and discussed the serious injury that nearly forced him into retirement during his time with Arsenal. This injury occurred in 2013 while he was playing for the Spanish national team against Chile.

“I suffered a blow that fractured a bone in my foot. It was at that point that I began receiving corticosteroid injections to alleviate the pain. Over time, however, it became unbearable. I was practically playing in tears and had lost the joy of the game. When I left the field that day, I told the doctor, ‘It’s over; we need to find a solution,'” Cazorla recounted.

During his initial stint at Villarreal, Cazorla underwent surgery for a herniated disc. He described the nightmare he experienced with English doctors until he sought the expertise of Mikel Sánchez, a Basque orthopedic surgeon, who addressed his severe ankle injury.

“I underwent surgery every month, totaling eleven times, with no one understanding the underlying issues. When I returned to Spain for a second opinion, I discovered I had gangrene in an 11 cm section of my Achilles tendon. In England, they warned me that I might lose my leg from the knee down. My Spanish doctor reassured me, and although people often claimed he downplayed the severity of my injury, that denial ultimately helped me remain optimistic,” the midfielder explained.

Throughout this challenging period, Cazorla received unwavering support from Arsenal and his coach, Arsène Wenger, who extended his contract for an additional year during his recovery. “I will never forget such a humane gesture,” Cazorla reminisced.

Regarding his future, Cazorla indicated in the interview that he is likely to retire at the end of this season: “It’s almost certain that this will be my last season. I want to enjoy it, savor these final moments, and take care of myself.”