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Cazorla to spend pre-season with former club Villarreal

Cazorla was a fan favourite at Villarreal before his move to Arsenal. Credit: PA

Santi Cazorla will spend pre-season with former club Villarreal in a bid to regain full fitness following his Achilles operation, the LaLiga outfit have announced.

The 33-year-old former Spain international is a free agent after leaving Arsenal at the end of last season.

Cazorla came up through the youth ranks at Villarreal and made 241 first-team appearances for the club before moving to Malaga in 2011, and then onto the Gunners a year later.

A Villarreal statement read: "Santi Cazorla returns home.

"The Asturian player will take part in pre-season with the Villarreal first team (July 9) with the objective of recovering from an Achilles tendon operation in his right leg, which he had last November 28."