Santi Cazorla Reveals The Three Players Who Message Him 'Almost Everyday' While Injured

Earlier this year, many feared that Santi Cazorla's 14-year career in professional football may have been over after another injury setback, but it seems the little magician will try and return to action in January.

Cazorla, who hasn't played a competitive game since October last year, had to undergo several operations to fix the achilles tendon injury he sustained during Arsenal's 6-0 win over Ludogorets and in yesterday's edition of Marca, the Arsenal midfielder revealed all.

In an emotional interview, Cazorla spoke of how he almost lost his foot to gangrene after contracting a dangerous infection.

A number of operations meant that the 32-year-old lost eight centimetres from the tendon in his right ankle. Doctors then proceeded to tell the Spaniard that he is lucky to be able to walk in the garden with his son.

As you can see in the image below, Cazorla needed a skin graft from his arm to help fix his left foot as part of his daughter's name is now tattooed on his achilles.

In the interview with Marca, Cazorla spoke about the three friends who message him 'almost every day' during his recovery from the achilles injury, saying that 'you realise who's who':

The extract reads: "Almost every day I receive a message from Iniesta, Silva, Villa... ," he notes, his eyes sparkling and a smile breaking out as he recalls anecdotes with the national team, especially the two European Championships he won."

Away from his time on the sidelines, the 32-year-old confirmed that his Arsenal contract was renewed earlier this year and the midfielder spoke of his injury in an interview with Cadena Ser back in May:

"They (Arsenal) were very good to me, they renewed me before my operation, the manager talked to me and gave me peace of mind. It's been a difficult season, since I have not played since November.

"I've been through surgery eight times. 'I had the last one yesterday, and hopefully everything will go well.

"Since November I have had complications. There was bacteria in the operating room and I suffered an infection in a bone. The scar did not close and I had a skin graft." Cazorla said.

We hope to see the little magician back very soon.

Featured image: (Pablo García / MARCA)

Topics: Football News, Football, Santi Cazorla, injury, Premier League, Arsenal

Jack Kenmare

Jack Kenmare is a writer at SPORTbible. He's interviewed some of the biggest names in sport, including Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Pele, Carles Puyol and Tim Henman. He dabbles in all things sport but football is his biggest passion. He was once hit in the head by a wayward strike from Nicky Butt and lived to tell the tale.

@jackkenmare_