Rosler, Goater, Quinn. All legendary modern era target men that City could have done with last season.
All three cost relative peanuts to the fee of today’s signing Roque Santa Cruz! Time to take a look at the lad’s form…
Born: 16th August 1981, Asuncion, Paraguay.
Height: 6ft 2 inches.
CAREER RECORD:
International Caps 61
International Goals 20
Came to prominence playing for his local side Olimpia Asunción where he hit 13 goals in 23 games during City’s 1998-1999 third division campaign.
Bayern Munich tracked him and brought him to Germany where to say the least, his record was far from exceptional as injuries ravaged his time there from 1999-2007. He started a Tricky Trevor Sinclair/Claudio Strainerish 103 games across those seasons in all competitions and made 86 substitute appearances. During those 7 to 8 years he scored 38 goals.
Summer 2007 came along and Blackburn brought Cruz to Ewood Park for £3.8 million. He went on to have a great first season under Mark Hughes and his Blackburn career realised 62 starts across the board, 8 off the bench appearances and 29 goals.
Cruz’s European Record 1999-2009:
165 starts in all competitions.
94 substitute appearances.
67 goals.
Well, it’s hardly prolific, is it? But considering the amount of bids City’s boss has thrown at Blackburn this year, he obviously sees something he can work with.
Sure, the fee is excessive when weighed up across the increasingly crazy transfer market, but he’s a Blue now and he’ll be guaranteed our support.
Welcome to Manchester City, Rocky!
What do you reckon, Blues? Is Cruz the answer? Maybe part of a bigger Hughes vision or nothing of the sort? Give us a shout both here and in the Vital MC forums!
JOIN VITAL MANCHESTER CITY:
Vital Manchester City was the fastest growing Independent City Website of the past season with a membership now standing at 1300 strong. There’s more to come – Be Here Now and join our worldwide community debate as City’s summer of change unfolds:
Share this article
