The exodus from Malaga has begun as Venezuelan striker Jose Salomon Rondon has gone to Russia’s Rubin Kazan, while Spain international Santi Cazorla has joined England’s Arsenal.
Rondon, who became the club’s highest scorer after arriving two seasons ago from Las Palmas, has signed a four-year contract, Rubin announced on their website.
Malaga also confirmed the move. They said on their website:
“The player has a bright future ahead in the Russian league.”
The club also announced on their web site the sale of Cazorla to Arsenal saying:
“Málaga Club de Fútbol and Arsenal Football Club have reached an agreement regarding the transfer of Santiago Cazorla González, seeing the player move to one of the best clubs in the history of the Premier League”
The Spanish club announced last week they were conducting an “internal restructuring” amid reports that owner Sheikh Abdullah Bin Nassar Al-Thani, of the Qatar royal family, wanted to sell the club after only two years.
Malaga midfielder Enzo Maresca warned that losing coach Manuel Pellegrini, whose wages are reported to be causing problems for the club, would be a “huge blow” to the club.