Santi Cazorla to leave Arsenal this summer

Villarreal are apparently in “advanced negotiations” to bring Cazorla back to his former club for pre-season training.

"Santi is always one of my favourite players to watch. His natural ability with both feet, his speed of thought and movement were central to our best performances in recent years," said Arsenal chief executive Ivan Gazidis.

"He plays with a joy and freedom which is very rare. We wish him well for the future and thank him for his important contribution to our club."

Cazorla, 33, has not played for Arsenal since suffering an injury in October 2016 but there had been suggestions he was nearing fitness, while it was also claimed he could have been appointed as a player-coach at the Emirates.

But the playmaker - who joined Arsenal from Malaga for £12m in 2012 - looks likely to rejoin the Spanish club he represented between 2007-11 in an attempt to prove his fitness and earn a new contract as a free agent.