Roque Santa Cruz completes move to Manchester City

MARK HUGHES: Manchester City manager makes second major signing of the summer. (Getty Images)

Abu Dhabi-owned Premiership football club Manchester City has made its second major summer purchase, following news on Monday that it had signed Blackburn Rovers striker Roque Santa Cruz to a four-year deal, after a successful medical.

The Paraguayan international was the subject of a number of bids from City in January but Rovers boss Sam Allardyce refused to sell the striker.

The 27-year-old, who missed the end of last season due to a knee injury, had been under contract with Blackburn until 2012, but had a buy-out clause in his contract for £18 million.

The purchase of Santa Cruz comes after England international Gareth Barry's recent £12 million move from Aston Villa.

Reports continue to circulate that Argentine international, Carlos Tevez, who confirmed last week that he will be leaving Manchester United, may be the next major signing for City with a transfer fee of £25.5 million being mooted.

After joining from Bundesliga side Bayern Munich for £3.8 million in 2007, Santa Cruz went on to make 70 appearances for Rovers, scoring 29 goals.

But he scored only six goals last season in a disjointed campaign, with the knee problem keeping him on the sidelines for the last two months.

Print | Email | Discuss this article

| Share |

READERS' COMMENTS

Click here to post a comment

Add your Comment All posts are sent to the administrator for review and are published only after approval. ArabianBusiness.com reserves the right to remove any comment at any time for any reason. Please keep your responses appropriate and on topic. Arabian Business would like to point out that only comments relevant to the story will be published. Any containing personal insults or inappropriate language will not be approved.
Name *
Remember me on this computer
Email *	(Your email address will not be published)
City
Country
Subject *
Comment *
Notify me of further comments
Enter the words above *
Please click post only once - your comment will not be published immediately.

MORE FROM ARABIANBUSINESS.COM