Santi Cazorla was left on the bench by coach Guillermo Almada for Real Oviedo’s match at the Santiago Bernabéu on Thursday, a move that has sharpened questions about whether the 41-year-old will play on beyond 30 June or end his career after what may be his final matches for the club.
The numbers underline the friction: this season Cazorla has appeared in 25 league matches for Oviedo, starting just four times and accumulating 736 league minutes. Almada, defending his selection after the game, said the choice over Cazorla’s future belongs to the player and that the club will respect whatever decision he makes.
Almada praised Cazorla’s attitude and influence, saying the veteran arrives early, trains spectacularly and consistently adds to the group. He explained his tactical thinking: rather than start Cazorla and risk him fading at 55 or 60 minutes, Almada prefers to bring him on against tired opponents so the former Spain international can make a decisive difference late in games.
The wider context is stark. Real Oviedo’s relegation this season has already been confirmed, leaving matches late in the campaign with little at stake. That reality has made each selection choice feel less about points and more about how the club manages the send-off and final appearances of one of Spanish football’s better-known figures.
Tension erupted after the Bernabéu game. Radio commentator Heri Frade criticized Almada on Cope for not playing Cazorla in a match with nothing at stake, calling the omission unacceptable and saying it disqualified the coach from remaining in charge in the division. Frade also said it was unfair to strip Cazorla of the chance to lead the side out as captain in that stadium. Captain Dani Calvo had already said he did not understand the way Cazorla’s minutes were being managed and argued the veteran should have seen much more playing time in LaLiga this season.
The contrast is striking: on the previous Sunday Almada publicly said he wanted Cazorla to continue at Real Oviedo, and after Thursday’s match he repeated that the decision is Cazorla’s to make and that the club is open to any choice. Almada insisted the player has given the team solutions and good contributions whenever he has appeared, and that selection decisions are driven by what the coach believes will get the most from the squad.
For Cazorla, who at 41 could be closing his career, the Bernabéu benching is more than a tactical footnote. It highlights a season in which his role was limited—four starts, 736 minutes—and turns a simple lineup decision into a public debate about respect, farewell and the player’s legacy at the club.
The key question now is not merely whether Cazorla will end his playing days on 30 June, but whether the club’s handling of his final appearances will shape that choice; Almada says it is Santi’s decision and that Real Oviedo will accept whatever he decides, leaving the decisive step in the hands of the player himself.
