Arsenal legend Santi Cazorla plays role of Gandalf in incredible announcement video…. after agreeing huge pay cut to rejoin boyhood club Real Oviedo

Former Arsenal star Santi Cazorla starred in a hilarious announcement video after the Spanish playmaker re-signed for boyhood club Real Oviedo. 

The 38-year-old has signed a one-year contact with Oviedo after leaving Qatari club Al Sadd and took on the role of Gandalf from The Lord of the Rings in the bizarre announcement video.

Riding a horse and cart containing memorabilia from his 20-year playing career, Cazorla is approached by a young girl wearing an Oviedo shirt who tells him he is ‘late’.

The 81-cap Spanish international replies: ‘It is never late to return. [I have] a lot to repay. Destiny had it written upon my path.’

Cazorla starred in an equally strange announcement video back in 2018, after he appeared from a plume of smoke having just signed for Villarreal.  

In a statement on the club website, Oviedo wrote: ‘The new signing, a hero of the Real Oviedo fanbase, arrives on a free transfer and will earn the minimum amount permitted by LaLiga Hypermotion for the Segunda División. 

‘In addition, the local lad will cede all his image rights to his beloved club, with the only condition being that 10% of shirt sales be donated entirely to investment in the club’s youth academy.’

Spanish Segunda side Oviedo will pay Cazorla the lowest wage allowed for a professional in the second division – which is reportedly around £1,200 a week. 

Cazorla first signed for Oviedo at the age of 11 before leaving to join Villareal without making an appearance for the first team. 

Since then, he has plied his trade for English giants Arsenal, Spanish rivals Malaga and Qatari side Al Sadd – which was his most recent club.  

Having won the European Championship in 2008 and 2012 with Spain, the playmaker signed for Arsenal in August 2012, making 180 appearances in north London across six seasons.