The former Villarreal manager and the current manager of Malaga – Manuel Pellegrini – has said that it would be like the club would be giving a player on a free transfer if they sold Santi Cazorla for € 20 million. The winger has been linked with a move to Arsenal after it has emerged in the last couple of days that manager Arsene Wenger is prepared to carry on his spending spree by bringing in the young talent to the Emirates stadium in order to compensate for the loss of Theo Walcott. The England winger has been linked with a move away from the club because he has only one season on his current contract.

It was initially thought that the significant financial problems faced by Malaga will be enough to persuade them that a £ 60 million transfer fee is the best that Arsenal can offer for Santi Cazorla. However, the manager Manuel Pellegrini has said that he does not see the player leaving for less that the valuation they have in mind because it would send the wrong message to their transfer targets. Despite the financial problems, Malaga are aiming for a Champions League place this season and they are working towards it by bringing a lot of new additions.

“They say that there is an offer for Santi Cazorla; selling Cazorla for €20m would be giving him away. I don’t think the club is in a position nor has the intention to do so. It would undermine the intention to compete in the Champions League. If important offers arrive for players you always listen to them, but I don’t think that Santi is going to leave the club for 20m because that would be giving him away and it would send the wrong message out,” said Manuel Pellegrini.