Di Santiago Bernabéu crowd don give Santi Cazorla big respect as dem see am for bench during Real Madrid vs Real Oviedo match. Di cameras from Dazn catch am, and di whole stadium burst into loud ovation. Cazorla, wey dey 41 years old, just smile small—na wetin e dey do, no dey cause wahala, and every fan like am.
Real Madrid fans sabi recognize legends, and Cazorla be one of dem. Even Guti, wey dey commentate for Dazn, bin get shock and pride. E talk say no every fan base dey show respect like dis, so e dey happy say im own club dey do am.
But di match itself no get much excitement—few chances, cold Bernabéu, and no emotion. Di main highlight na Cazorla presence.
Meanwhile, Guillermo Almada, di coach of Real Oviedo, dey face heavy criticism for how e handle Cazorla dis season. Di team don already suffer relegation, and Almada still no give Cazorla starting spot for dis match. Heri Frade, journalist for COPE, don blast Almada, say e dey show lack of heart. Frade talk say Dani Calvo, di captain, don already complain about Cazorla minutes, and now Almada drop Calvo from squad as punishment. E say di decision to bench Cazorla for Bernabéu, where nothing dey at stake, be very ugly move.
Frade add say Cazorla suppose get chance to wear captain armband for Bernabéu and say goodbye well. Instead, Almada dey show power. Dis season, Cazorla only start four league games, though e play 25 matches total, with 736 minutes, one assist, one yellow and one red card. E get most continuous run between matchdays 13 and 15, where e start three games in a row.
Almada don defend himself, say e prefer Cazorla come from bench to face tired defenders. E talk say Cazorla dey train well, dey first to arrive, and dey always add value. But e leave decision on Cazorla future to di player. Real Oviedo open to any choice Cazorla make after June 30.
Do you have a news tip for NNN? Please email us at editor @ nnn.ng
