Arsenal star Santi Cazorla almost had his foot amputated after contracting gangrene and reveals the horrific scar left from EIGHT surgeries on achilles... including skin graft from tattooed arm

  • Santi Cazorla opens up the horrific injury that has kept him out for over a year
  • The Arsenal star was left 'looking for a miracle' as his career came under threat
  • Cazorla lost eight centimetres from his achilles tendon following major surgery
  • Midfielder has had a tattooed piece of skin from his left arm grafted to his foot
  • Remarkably, Cazorla could be back playing for the Gunners as early as January 

Santi Cazorla has revealed the horrific extent of the achilles tendon injury that has kept him out of action for over a year and admitted he almost lost his foot to gangrene after contracting a dangerous infection.

The Spanish midfielder has not played for Arsenal since October last year and has had to undergo multiple operations, resulting in the loss of eight centimetres from the tendon in his right ankle.

In an emotional interview with Spanish newspaper Marca, Cazorla opened up on his fight to play professional football again and posed for a series of shocking photos. 

Cazorla had a piece of tattooed skin from his left arm grafted onto his right foot late in 2017

Santi Cazorla has had a piece of tattooed skin from his left arm grafted onto his right foot

The Arsenal midfielder has revealed what his achilles area looks like after nine surgeries

The Arsenal midfielder has revealed what his achilles area looks like after eight surgeries

A physio works on Cazorla's achilles as he bids to return to fitness before the end of the season

A physio works on Cazorla's achilles as he bids to return to fitness before the end of the season

Spanish paper Marca ran a picture of Cazorla's scarred ankle on their front page on Friday

Spanish paper Marca ran a picture of Cazorla's scarred ankle on their front page on Friday

The 33-year-old has not played for the Gunners since injuring his achilles in October 2016

The 32-year-old has not played for Arsenal since injuring his achilles in October last year

The images - one of which adorned the front page of the Spanish newspaper on Friday - showed in graphic detail the devastation caused by going under the knife eight times in the space of a year. 


In one photo, Cazorla shows off the skin graft which has left him with a section of tattooed skin from his left arm now covering his achilles area.

He also revealed there was serious consideration as to whether they should amputate his foot after he contracted a potentially life-threatening infection.

Doctors have told the 32-year-old that he is lucky to be able to walk in the garden with his son, but, remarkably, he could be back playing football with the Gunners as early as January.

Cazorla looks back at a photo of his achilles during one of the eight surgeries he underwent

Cazorla looks back at a photo of his achilles during one of the eight surgeries he underwent

The midfielder is hoping to play again before the end of the season, with January a possibility

The midfielder is hoping to play again before the end of the season, with January a possibility

Cazorla's tattoo has been party removed and can now be found covering his achilles area

Cazorla's tattoo has been party removed and can now be found covering his achilles area

Cazorla told Marca: 'If you get to walk again with your son in the garden, be satisfied, they told me,'

'He [Dr Mikel Sanchez] saw that I had a tremendous infection, that I had damaged part of the calcaneus bone and it had eaten the achilles tendon. There was eight centimetres of it missing!

'I do not have clearance until January, but I will come back by then.'

Cazorla is continuing his rehabilitation in his hometown of Salamanca but Arsene Wenger recently revealed that he is ready to welcome the diminutive playmaker back to his squad after the Christmas period.

He recently said: 'The first signs are positive, but still he has not played for one and a half years.

'He is not in full training yet, he needs a few games with the reserve team. So I think if all goes well, it will be after Christmas.'

Cazorla joined Arsenal from Malaga in 2012 and has since gone on to make 129 appearances in the Premier League and has also lifted two FA Cups.

Cazorla has scored 25 Premier League goals for Arsenal since arriving in 2012

Cazorla has scored 25 Premier League goals for Arsenal since arriving in 2012

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