Santi Cazorla: Villarreal Winger Now Wanted by Real Madrid

After Bayern Munich rejected the advances of Real Madrid for its star winger Franck Ribéry, things were giving the impression of being relatively quiet at the Santiago Bernabeu about other target wingers.

But not for long, now it is coming out that Real is interested in Santi Cazorla of Villarreal. Only last August Cazorla had rejected a move to Real Madrid, citing the reason as that he was happy at Villarreal, angering Real's hierarchy.

Though Santi Cazorla is an excellent offensive player able to play in the midfield, left and right wings as he is two-footed, still Robben is considered a comparatively better option on the left by many.

The important question is how can Real Madrid finance this move without first having to sell players when Jorge Valdano has said that club needs to sell at the least five players to generate enough money to finance further signings?

Villarreal could be set to get €30 million plus a player like Alvaro Negredo in a cash plus player deal. Villarreal president Fernando Roig likes Negredo and has hiked the price to €40 million to possibly force Real Madrid to include Negredo in the deal.

Questions about the future of Arjen Robben in the team gain further prominence by this episode. If he stays then, will he be given first team spot, or will he share it with Cazorla on rotation, or Cazorla will become first choice, because Robben tends to be selfish sometimes?

And what will happen to Marcelo, who performed better as a winger then as left-back? Will he become second choice left back to Roberto Canella should he arrive from Sporting Gijon? Or perhaps as a substitute left winger? But if Cazorla and Canella arrive, with Robben staying, then Marcelo may definitely be pushed out.

Marcelo can serve as a backup when Robben is injured, or to rest him, and start Copa del Rey games to give him time and opportunity to develop.

Despite Robben’s apparent shortcomings, he is an excellent player and eager to do well at Real Madrid. He should be the one in the first team if he is not sold instead of bringing another winger. Failure to sell existing players and buying new will put extraordinary pressure on club’s balance sheet.