Premier League - City fail in Santa Cruz bid

Eurosport - Thu, 08 Jan 16:17:00 2009

Blackburn Rovers have confirmed they have rejected Manchester City's latest bid for star striker Roque Santa Cruz.

FOOTBALL Blackburn Rovers Santa Cruz - 0

Blackburn's official website confirmed they received a bid from the Eastlands club - thought to be "significantly" in excess of £12 million - but duly turned it down.

City may now turn their attentions to Juventus hitman David Trezeguet, according to reports in France.

Santa Cruz, who City boss Mark Hughes first brought to the Premier League as Blackburn manager 18 months ago, has been a target for the Blues since the summer.

Then, a £12m bid was rejected and Blackburn's stance has changed since, even though his sale would represent good business - he cost just £3.8m from Bayern Munich in the summer of 2007.

"We have made an improved bid, a substantial bid for Roque Santa Cruz but it was rejected," said Hughes.

"We made a bid in the region of £12million in the summer and it (the new bid) is significantly higher than that.

"But we still want to bring him to the club if we can but he is Blackburn's player and they don't want to deal at the level we have made a bid at.

"That is their prerogative."

The 27-year-old was an instant hit at Blackburn, netting 23 goals in all competitions in his debut season to prick the interest of City, along with their neighbours Manchester United and Liverpool.

Following Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed al Nahyar's takeover at the City of Manchester Stadium, Hughes has been given a huge warchest, thought to be in the region of £100m, to spend this January.

But with Blackburn standing firm, he may be forced to admit defeat in his pursuit of Santa Cruz.

World Cup winner Trezeguet represents an alternative for Hughes, with the Frenchman's agent claiming City are on the verge of making a bid for the striker.

The Juventus ace is currently out with a knee injury but Antonio Caliendo has claimed that has not put City off.

"A man close to Manchester City called me some days ago to tell me of his interest in David," Caliendo told L'Equipe.

"I believe the club are ready to put on the table a bid of more than 20 million euros to get him.

"Manchester City's interest isn't new. It happened last year."

But Trezeguet is under contract at the Stadio Olimpico until the summer of 2011 and prising the 31-year-old away from the Italian giants is likely to be difficult.

"A big Spanish club also contacted me a few weeks ago, before City did, as well as two clubs from the Persian Gulf," he added.

"But David is untransferable and it is out of the question that I will talk more to these clubs since David still isn't playing again.

"He will stay at Juve through this transfer window."

Trezeguet netted 20 goals for the Old Lady of Turin last season and formed one of the most feared attacking pairings in Europe alongside Alessandro Del Piero.

Mike Hytner / Eurosport

Comment 4 - 23 of 43

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  1. MANCHESTER CITY ARE DOING MY HEAD IN!!!!!! WHAT PLAYER DONT THEY WANT?? PATHETIC CLUB!!!!!

    From vibeclothing, on Thu 8 Jan 3:36PM

  2. IF SANTA CRUZ, WANT'S TO LEAVE LET HIM,YOU NEED PLAYERS THAT WANT TO PLAY FOR THE CLUB,BING BACK BRYON DOUGLAS RONNIE CLAYTON,BILL ECKERSLEY,THESE WHERE GREAT PLAYERS

    From alan, on Thu 8 Jan 2:39PM

  3. Mike Hytner - writer of this article - you say that Trezeguet is under contract at the Stadio Olimpico..... Juve play at the Stadio Della Alpi - the Olimpico is the home of Roma and Lazio!

    From PAUL, on Thu 8 Jan 2:26PM

  4. It doesn't matter how much money you throw at some players they still won't come to play for you!The likes of Villa, Buffon, Kaka, Yaya Toure etc. aren't going to move to a club whose ambitions for this season revolve around securing a mid table position! City need to be realistic with there purchases during the transfer window because there won't be any quick fix for the club!It's gonna be 3-5 years before you're able to challenge the top teams in the premiership and in all likely hood Robinho will have left by then!

    From MichealS, on Thu 8 Jan 1:50PM

  5. chris w: they probley was better then utd last night did'nt watch it so could'nt tell u mate, hmmmmmm ya liv will win it if they keep it up and with a bit of luck they will,hope it's goes well for ya with city;)........thats oright,i dont make to many people laugh though lol

    From chrisahearne, on Thu 8 Jan 1:49PM

  6. chris w: they probley was better then utd last night did'nt watch it so could'nt tell u mate, hmmmmmm ya liv will win it if they keep it up and with a bit of luck they will,hope it's goes well for ya with city;)........thats oright,i dont make to many people laugh though lol

    From chrisahearne, on Thu 8 Jan 1:47PM

  7. Wish Santa Cruz the best of luck and continue his good form in Blackburn Rovers. Go Santa!

    From Alwin, on Thu 8 Jan 1:37PM

  8. BUY VILLA PIENAAR AND ZAKI

    From terence, on Thu 8 Jan 1:34PM

  9. That's really great news, Mark Hughes should stop messing around trying to sign mediocre players and go and bring in a forward that can put the ball in the back of the net on a regular basis someone like a certain David Villa no matter how much he costs.

    From JOHN, on Thu 8 Jan 1:33PM

  10. They may have all the money in the world but the world class players want to be playing at the highest level! I feel it is going to be at least 4 years until city are anywhere near the standard of the top 4! And maybe even longer if no one wants to go and play for them! Good luck for the rest of the season they are going to need it haha!!

    From John, on Thu 8 Jan 1:20PM

  11. "A man close to Manchester City called me some days ago to tell me of his interest in David"

    HAHAHA Thatn could have been me lol

    From Segun, on Thu 8 Jan 1:17PM

  12. chrisahearne you make me laugh!, cheers!, i'm a life-long City fan and you know as well as me, the Rams were MUCH BETTER than Utd last night, sour grapes are out of season, you need to wait till May for those when Liverpool win the league.

    From Chris W, on Thu 8 Jan 1:17PM

  13. er, what planet is sam_merwah living on? Henry; past it. Viera; past it. Owen; past it. Top 4 finish this season?! It doesn't matter who they buy, they're not going to make up 16 points in 19 games!

    From roon01, on Thu 8 Jan 1:15PM

  14. buy:
    k. toure
    alonso
    Villa

    From Crazyfool333, on Thu 8 Jan 1:14PM

  15. I agree with amoahjohn16, City need a world class centre back, midfielder and striker. If the team wants to be in the top four, and rightly so, then forget about the Scott Parker's (who never made the grade at Chelsea and spends more time on the injury table). Bring back Van-Buyten and get Viera, Henry and Owen. Finish in the top four this season and then target the huge names once in the champions league.

    From sam_merwah, on Thu 8 Jan 12:53PM

  16. the rams r @#$% and thats it!!!!

    From chrisahearne, on Thu 8 Jan 12:43PM

  17. hmmmm......he miles well buy owen lol 31 @#$% me and they want 20mill for him what a joke and this is comeing from a liverpool fan!!!

    From chrisahearne, on Thu 8 Jan 12:43PM

  18. hanapi a i think you'll find that's a RAM not a goat!

    From Chris W, on Thu 8 Jan 12:34PM

  19. staying in premier league as to be the main thing not selling players we need to stay up ya the 12 million good money but it will cost more than that to get back in prem

    From ROBERT S, on Thu 8 Jan 12:13PM

  20. staying in premier league as to be the main thing not selling players we need to stay up ya the 12 million good money but it will cost more than that to get back in prem

    From ROBERT S, on Thu 8 Jan 12:13PM
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