Villarreal Wary Of Losing Santi Cazorla To Real Madrid

El Submarino are aware that they could lose their prized asset before the new term begins.

Jul 12, 2009 9:40:43 PM

More On :  Villarreal, Santiago Cazorla González
Santi Cazorla, Villarreal-Athletic (MARCA)

Villarreal will kick-off their preseason campaign with caution as they are aware that they could lose their star player, Santi Cazorla.

For the second summer in a row, the winger has entered Real Madrid’s transfer plans only this time, the Yellow Submarine’s entire squad rebuilding project could depend on the 24-year-old’s transfer.

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AS believe that the Castellan de la Plana outfit could reel in as much as €30 million for the Spanish international with young striker, Alvaro Negredo thrown in to the deal as a bonus. Club president, Fernando Roig has always been a fan of the 23-year-old, recently back at the Bernabeu after a two-year stint at Almeria, but after seeing a €15m offer rejected by the ‘White House’, he deliberately spiked Cazorla’s asking price to well over €40m to improve his chances of snapping up Negredo.

Should the deal go ahead, El Submarino will have the ideal frontman to replace Nihat Kahveci and the soon-to-depart Jozy Altidore as Negredo would form quite a formidable strike force with either Giuseppe Rossi or Joseba Llorente.

But they would have another problem as the creative balance in midfield will be severely reduced. With Mati Fernandez having already left for Portuguese giants, Sporting CP, Cazorla’s exit will leave new coach, Ernesto Valverde with just Cani, Ariel Ibagaza and the aging Robert Pires to count on.

Eventhough they will have sufficient funds from Cazorla’s sale to find a replacement, the club want to have their squad finalized for their pre-season training program.    

KS Leong, Goal.com

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