Get the champagne on ice, City fans. This month could realise not only the departure of Emmanuel Adebayor but also arguably The Blues worst signing of all time…
It’s just over two years ago now that Mark Hughes embarked upon a repeated pursuit bordering on the demented of Blackburn’s injured striker Roque Santa Cruz that left Planet Blue reeling in disbelief.
In the end, a gleeful Rovers boardroom punched the air as the big striker, who was recovering from serious knee operations at the time signed on the dotted line at SportCity for an incredulous £17,500,000.
Since then, the perma-injured 30 year old striker racked up a pisspoor 8 league and cup starts for City scoring 4 goals against Scunthorpe, Sunderland (2) and Fulham. Each coming at a cost of £4,375,000. Good grief.
Fast forward to the present following a goal-less 8 game loan spell at Blackburn and a 4 game Copa America tournament where he actually scored against Brazil and we find that Crocky is injured again. But his agent Dad, Aproniano, has chosen the moment a fortnight before the closure of the summer transfer window to remind European football that his son, who is a right nice bloke by all accounts, is still available:
‘He has a contract with City until June 2013 and is available for what the club decides to do. They are looking for another club for him because Roque wants to go to another team where he can have more chances to play. There are teams interested, but if he was not injured there would be more teams.’
With what can only be interpreted as a hint of desperation, he goes on to declare a preparedness to drop a division in England:
‘Roque is comfortable in Manchester and I would like an English team more. The second division is very competitive in England, with powerful teams in huge stadiums. There are important teams like Leeds United, but his future will be decided by Manchester.’
So what are you waiting for Lids?! Pick up that telephone.
– File under ‘What the hell were you thinking of Sparky?’
Roque Santa Cruz City Factfile
– Signed for £17,500,000 from Blackburn
01 Jul 09 to present:
8 League and Cup Starts, 4 goals
UPCOMING FIXTURES:
all times GMT+1
Su 21 Aug 16:00 Bolton, Reebok Stadium, PL
Su 28 Aug 13:30 Spurs, White Hart Lane, PL
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