Retirement

Santi Cazorla and Bruno end Villarreal careers after easy Eibar win

The two icons of the club are moving on, one into retirement while the other remains unknown

 
7:32pm on Sunday 19th July 2020
By
Paul Macdonald

Two famous faces of El Madrigal, Santi Cazorla and Bruno Soriano said their goodbyes to Villarreal as they ended their careers there with a resounding 4-0 win over Eibar.

Cazorla announced earlier this week of his intention to move on at the end of the season, after restarting his career at his old club following a succession of ankle problems while at Arsenal.

It was thought he would never play again at one stage, but he has bounced back in sensational style at the age of 35 and enjoyed one of his best-ever seasons.

Cazorla will likely play out the rest of his days with a lucrative contract in the Middle East, with Qatar at the moment his most likely destination.

35 yrs - AM, M (C) - Villarreal
92
Defending
Creative
Passing
Attacking
Shooting
Decisive
Aerials
Physical
JavaScript chart by amChartsLDefendingCreativePassingAttackingShootingDecisiveAerialsPhysical10-10-5051015100%
2377
Played matches
34
11
8
Passes completed P90
49.69
SUCCESSFUL PASSING %
86%
Final third passes
22.74
Man of the match
5

His team-mate Bruno also feared he would never play again, having missed up to three years through a succession of serious injuries.

But the pandemic has given him the opportunity to go on a farewell tour, playing 170 minutes in six substitute appearances during the restart, and the 36-year-old can now go into retirement.

Gerard Moreno was the star of the show on the day, netting a late double to clinch an easy win for the Yellow Submarine.

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