European football: Santa Cruz to Rovers
{{date|July 28, 2007}}
{{Paraguay}}
[[Paraguay]]an footballer {{w|Roque Santa Cruz}} has left [[FC Bayern Munich|Bayern Munich]] for {{w|Blackburn Rovers}}. Roque Santa Cruz signed a four year deal. Roque Santa Cruz became expendable after major signings by Bayern Munich. Santa Cruz became 5<sup>th</sup> choice striker after {{w|Luca Toni}}, {{w|Miroslav Klose}}, {{w|Lucas Podolski}} and {{w|Jan Schlaudraff}}. Blackburn Rovers beat [[Manchester City]], [[FC Porto|Porto]] and {{w|Espanyol}} for the signature of Roque Santa Cruz. The fee is reported to be around {{w|British pound|£}}3.4million.

Santa Cruz experienced an injury-plagued and trophy-laden eight-year career in [[Munich]]. Santa Cruz scored 31 goals in 155 league appearances and seven goals in 51 UEFA Champions League games for Bayern Munich. He won five German titles, four German Cups and one UEFA Champions League title with Bayern Munich.

Blackburn coach {{w|Mark Hughes}} was quoted as saying, "Santa Cruz is a young player, an international with a good reputation who is playing at a top European club." and "The good thing from our point of view is that his fitness levels are fine as he has been playing in the [[Copa America]]."
{{Haveyoursay}}
==Sources==
*{{source|url=http://www.fifa.com/worldfootball/clubfootball/news/newsid=560352.html#rovers+complete+santa+cruz+signing|title=Rovers complete Santa Cruz signing|author=|pub=FIFA|date=July 28, 2007}}
*{{source|url=http://www.uefa.com/competitions/intertotocup/news/kind=1/newsid=565186.html|title=Blackburn capture Santa Cruz|author=|pub=UEFA|date=July 28, 2007}}
*{{source|url=http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story?id=448419&cc=5901|title=Santa Cruz seals Blackburn move|author=|pub=ESPN Soccernet|date=July 28, 2007}}
*{{source|url=http://home.skysports.com/list.aspx?hlid=479162&CPID=8&clid=5&lid=4161&title=Santa+Cruz+makes+Rovers+move|title=Santa Cruz makes Rovers move|author=|pub=Sky Sports|date=July 28, 2007}}
*{{source|url=http://www.fcbayern.t-com.de/en/news/news/2007/12677.php?fcb_sid=5b24dca6246ee1b2b10f5dd6ceafd377|title=Santa Cruz snapped up by Blackburn|author=|pub=FC Bayern Munich|date=July 28, 2007}}

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