- Gratefulness
Santi Cazorla started playing football at Real Oviedo. In 2012, they were on the cusp of going bankrupt. The Spaniard helped the lower-tier side survive by buying shares at the club. It had kept Oviedo afloat and they even managed to win promotion to Segunda three years later.
- Banter
The Spaniard is good always up for a giggle. The diminutive playmaker is often captured sharing a joke with a teammate or a coach. He even named one of his dogs Zlatan, after a certain Swedish forward.
- Horrible injury
In 2016, Santi picked up an ankle injury while playing for Arsenal. He had to undergo eight surgeries. At one point, Cazorla was told he'd be lucky to walk again after the leg injury which kept him sidelined for almost two years. The man had to go through immense pain and suffering to continue playing football.
Santi has not had a chance to get a fitting farewell at the Emirates:
- Triumphant return
And yet he persevered. In 2018, he returned to his former side Villarreal. And, much to everyone's surprise, he started shining again. This season, Cazorla was one of the best La Liga players, having scored 10 goals and assisted 11. All that at the age of 35.
- Man who never gives up
Through thick and thin, Santi has always kept his chin up. His never-say-die attitude is perhaps best illustrated by the episode which took place last season. In April 2019, he missed a crucial penalty against Betis and his side lost 2-1. He was seen crying, alone, in the tunnel after the game.
Yet he bounced back. In the next three games, he provided two assists and guided Villarreal to three victories which lifted the Yellow Submarine out of the drop zone.
