Spanish midfielder Santi Cazorla said it was ‘very special’ to be playing top-level football again after making his comeback following an injury-plagued 21 months.
The former Arsenal playmaker, who had skin removed from his forearm and grafted on to his leg after undergoing eight operations on a persistent ankle injury, was told by doctors he would be lucky to walk properly again, let alone return to playing professionally.
“To feel like a footballer again is something very special,” Cazorla said after returning to the pitch on Tuesday when he came on as a second-half substitute for Villarreal in a pre-season friendly against Hercules, 636 days after his last outing in October 2016.
Following an extensive rehabilitation process, the 33-year-old last month re-joined former club Villarreal on a trial basis after being released by Arsenal. “The warmth of everyone during this period is something that will stay with me forever,” he said. “The fans have given me strength and been there through all the bad times.”
Cazorla said he was determined to make the most of his second chance, adding: “Sometimes I can ask too much of myself and I don’t enjoy things. I’ve returned to training with my team mates and played a game at a good level. For me this was unthinkable 20 months ago. I’m just focused on getting 100% fit and playing football.”
AC Milan challenge UEFA ban at sports court
AC Milan’s senior executives were at the world’s top sports court yesterday fighting to overturn a European ban for breaking UEFA’s financial fair play rules. Managing director Marco Fassone, chief financial officer Valentina Montanari and a team of lawyers were set to lobby the Court of Arbitration for Sport to overturn the Italian club’s Europa League ban for the upcoming season. The hearing is expected to last a full day with a decision due within 24 hours, a CAS spokesperson has said. AC Milan have spent a troubled 15 months since they were bought by Chinese businessman Li Yonghong from Silvio Berlusconi in April 2017.
The takeover was partly funded by a high-interest loan of 300mn euros ($348mn) from American hedge fund Elliott Management. When Milan failed to make a repayment at the start of July, Elliott moved to take over, a process which is due to be ratified by club shareholders on July 21.
The Chinese owners spent more than 200mn euros on players last summer and that, combined with the terms of the Elliott loan, triggered the interest of UEFA. At the end of June, UEFA ruled that Milan were in breach of “the break-even requirement.”
That specifically bars clubs from taking on debt to fund day-to-day obligations such as wages or transfer fees. UEFA banned the club from its competitions. Despite the investment in players, the club finished sixth in Serie A and only qualified for the Europa League, Europe’s second tier tournament.
Fassone has blamed the club’s woes on Berlusconi’s management. The seven-time European champions are the biggest club to have been punished under the fair play rules.
Pavard may join Bayern before new season
The France World Cup defender Benjamin Pavard, who shot to fame with a brilliant goal against Argentina, has signed a contract to join Bayern Munich in 2019 but reports in Germany suggested the 22-year-old may make the switch even sooner.
Bayern reportedly agreed a deal with Stuttgart before the World Cup, to join the German champions in 2019. German regional television SWR said, however, that Stuttgart were locked in talks with Bayern over releasing Pavard early, after already agreeing a 35 million euros transfer fee.
The player was keeping his cards close to his chest on Wednesday when asked in his hometown where his future lay. “Let’s see, for now I’m at Stuttgart and I don’t know yet where I’ll be this season,” he said. “I’m very happy at Stuttgart however,” said the man whose stunning right-foot strike flew from wide into the Argentina net to bring France level at 2-2 in a match they eventually won.
Pavard, who joined Stuttgart in 2016 when they had been relegated to the German second flight. Stuttgart won promotion in his first season and the player himself won his first cap for France in late 2017. He was absent from the team’s official photo yesterday.
Wilshere hoping to boost England chances with West Ham move
Jack Wilshere hopes his move to West Ham United from Arsenal will rekindle his international career.
The 26-year-old ended his 17-year stay at Arsenal last month after injuries and poor form saw him slip down the pecking order in recent seasons.
He failed to make England’s squad for the World Cup and won his last cap in 2016.
“That’s a big reason why I stayed in the Premier League. I’ve always said before, I love playing for my country, I’m proud to do it and it’s been a while since I’ve done it,” Wilshere said. Wilshere could make his West Ham debut when they face Preston North End in the third of their seven pre-season fixtures tomorrow.
Santi Cazorla came on as a second-half substitute for Villarreal in a pre-season match against Hercules, 636 days after his last outing in for Arsenal in October 2016.
