After enjoying a fine comeback season at Villarreal, The Magician Santi Cazorla is on his way to Qatari side Al Sadd SC to complete the last spell of his career. The former Arsenal man was already given a red-light following a horrific injury, but against all the odds, the 35-year-old impressed everyone throughout the season to make a comeback to the Spanish national side as well. The midfielder was an impressive performer in the struggling Villarreal side in the first half of the season and was one of the key figures in the Yellow Submarines 5th place finish in the La Liga table.
In this scout report, well examine Santi Cazorlas performance and individual traits that he has shown at Villarreal and analyse whether he fits in at Al-Sadd or not. Similarly, this tactical analysis will have a look at how Santi Cazorla will be an addition to Xavis tactics and will look at all the traits hell bring into Al Sadds midfield.
Cazorlas positional compatibility
Cazorla was considered to be one of the best attacking playmakers in the league during his time in London. In his comeback spell at the Spanish top-flight, Cazorla again showed how his abilities to control and supply the ball tend to penetrate defences and establish control in the middle of the pitch. Villarreal often preferred to opt to a 4-1-4-1 formation, occasionally shifting to a 4-4-2 as well. Cazorla often occupied the left-hand side of the midfield, as his heatmap indicates.
We already see Cazorlas left-side preference in the midfield. If we look at his vertical coverage, it is fair to say hes been a deep-lying playmaker as well as an attacking midfielder for Villarreal. Hence, in addition to a four-man midfield, Cazorla can also be seen adapting to a three-man midfield in a system like 4-3-3.
Teamed up with defensive-minded Vincente Iborra and illustrious Manu Trigueros, Cazorla was relieved of his defensive duties. Hence, the job of creating balls for the attack and maintaining the midfield control and shape was well-done by the Spaniard, including the fixture against Barcelona.
Talking about Al Sadd, Xavi has been flexible with his formati
