Arsenal cult hero Santi Cazorla is set to leave his Qatari club after three years spent in the Middle East.
The Spanish midfielder has won the Qatar Stars League twice, while also scooping three domestic cups.
He has departed as a free agent, with the 38-year-old now facing an uncertain future.
A return to Arsenal to join Mikel Arteta’s coaching staff could be on the cards, while he could decide for another spell at former club Villarreal
Cazorla, who plays for Al Sadd SC, operates primarily as an attacking midfielder, but also played as a winger, central midfielder or as a deep-lying playmaker.
Cazorla began his professional career at Villarreal in 2003 after impressing as a youngster with his hometown club, Real Oviedo.
In 2011–12 he moved to the Premier League side Arsenal for a fee of £10 million, where he became a core component to the team in his first year at the club, registering thirteen assists, after which he was voted Arsenal Player of the Season, as well as becoming ranked one of the best footballers in Europe by Bloomberg.
The former Spain international was also integral in ending the club’s nine-year trophy drought, scoring a crucial free-kick en route to winning the FA Cup in 2014.
He ended his six-year association with Arsenal in 2018 and returned to Villarreal for a third spell; in his two seasons, he recorded his highest appearance, league goals and assist count since 2015. In 2020, he signed for Qatari club Al Sadd.