Malaga midfielder Santi Cazorla could leave the club today as early as today, according to a report coming from the Spanish city. The Spain international has been linked with a move away from Malaga to Arsenal and with the Gunners said to have lodged a bid 22million euro (£18million) on Friday afternoon it all seems likely.
Malaga are currently facing a huge financial crisis and a possible sale of the club from its Qatari owner Sheikh Abdullah Al-Thani to Albanian oil group Taci Oil, which looks the likeliest option, but the club faces a number of financial payments due on 1st of August which are also believed to be at least 30 percent of 20million euro and representing instalment payments on a number of players bought in a spending-spree last summer.
According to local newspaper La Opinion de Malaga today, they may have to sell Cazorla in order to meet those obligations. The alternative, if they miss those payments, is possible relegation from La Liga and expulsion from the Champions League play-off round for which they qualified with a fourth-place finish last season. Cazorla has a release clause of 45million euro (£35million) but Malaga may have take a lower in what effectively looks like a ‘quick sale’ to keep the club floating.
Talks are continuing between the club’s Qatari owners and Taci but are unlikely to be concluded in time for Malaga’s payments to be made, so Cazorla may need to be sold.
