By Dermot Corrigan, Spain Correspondent
The crisis gripping Malaga continues to intensify, with striker Salomon Rondon admitting that players including Arsenal target Santi Cazorla could soon leave.
PA PhotosSanti Cazorla has been strongly linked with Arsenal
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With the Qatari owners keeping a low profile as they try to sell the club, a meeting between the squad and management was held on Wednesday evening. After it, Venezuelan international Rondon, 22, admitted he was worried.
“We must not throw more wood on the fire,” he said. “We will keep training and not make any rash decisions. We need to keep cool heads but, if the situation is not fixed, it is normal that players would leave.”
The forward, who scored 11 league goals as Malaga finished fourth in the Primera Division last season, has been linked with a €10 million move to Premier League sides Tottenham and Chelsea. He said he had not received any offers but could not rule out leaving.
“If someone has to leave, they will leave,” Rondon said. “[But] I have two years of my contract remaining and would like to stay here.”
With the owners reluctant to invest further, and money required to pay overdue players’ wages and transfer fees owed to other clubs, at least three top players could soon be sold.
First out of the door could be Spanish international Cazorla, who has reportedly already agreed personal terms with Arsenal and could undergo a medical in London this week with a local paper claiming he has been given permission not to attend training on Thursday morning.
“[Cazorla] would be a big loss for Malaga,” Rondon said. “He is a great player, and I congratulate him for his great work for the club.”
French international Jeremy Toulalan is another close to the exit door, while midfielders Xavi Torres and Apono are set to join La Liga rivals Getafe and Real Zaragoza respectively.
Sporting director Antonio Fernandez and coach Manuel Pellegrini have both been “invited” to leave, according to Spanish sports paper AS.
Malaga, who play a Champions League final qualifier later this month, face the Italian champions Juventus in a friendly in Salerno on Saturday.