Santi Cazorla reveals scar from eight surgeries and how he almost had his foot amputated

Santi Cazorla has been speaking about his injury troubles that have kept him on the sidelines for a year and almost led to the loss of his foot.

The Arsenal midfielder told Spanish media outlet Marca that he is working towards playing again, but he was told at one point that his career was over and that he would be lucky to be able to walk with his son in the garden. Cazorla last played for Arsenal in October 2016, in a Champions League game against Ludogorets, and has since undergone eight operations on his ankle. On the front page of Marca, the Spanish midfielder showed the scar around his Achilles, which needed skin from his arm to cover the wound. Cazorla says in the interview that doctors told him he wouldn't play again, and that he lost eight centimetres from the tendon in his right ankle after picking up an infection.

"If you get to walk again with your son in the garden, be satisfied, they told me."

The 32-year-old, who is currently recovering in Spain, also picked up a serious blood infection that could have led to the loss of his foot, had it not been detected and treated. Doctors told him it would be a "medical miracle" if he returns to football, but Cazorla remains optimistic and hopes to get back on the pitch. https://www.instagram.com/p/BXqZqR7FPDm/?taken-by=santicazorla He joined Arsenal from Malaga in 2012 and impressed first as an advanced midfielder and then in a deeper role, scoring 29 goals in 180 games for the Gunners. Cazorla scored an impressed 12 goals during his first season with Arsenal, and won two FA Cups with Arsene Wenger's team. He was part of the Spain squads which won the European Championships in 2008 and 2012 and has earned 77 caps for his country.