Santa Cruz Slow Offload Continues At Malaga

On the eve of Mark Hughes latest return to Manchester, Malaga have completed the season long loan of City's worst ever signing...

Roque Santa Cruz's slow offload towards becoming a free agent will resume in Spain following last season's loan with Real Betis whereby he scored 7 goals in 21 games.

A far cry from the 31 year old Paraguayan striker's dreadful input at City following Hughes' obsessive repeat bids for his signing from Blackburn which finally realised a demented £17,500,000 fee in summer 2009. The forward had undergone serious knee surgery and endured a lengthy rehabilitation in City's care.

The ever smiling Crocky said:

'I had in mind to return to Betis, that was always my idea because Betis has always treated me very well...But in the last weeks there was interest from Malaga. I would have the chance to play the Champions League there and that was the reason I accepted to be transferred to that team. I am sure that my family is going to feel very well at Malaga. This is the last year of my contract at Manchester, and in December I would be able to negotiate with other teams.'

Roque Santa Cruz City Factfile:
Age 31
Signed from Blackburn Rovers July 2009: £17,500,000
City League and Cup Appearances: 24 including 16 as sub
Goals 4 @ £4,375,000 each.


CITY NEWS:

The Transfer Window closes at 23h00 BST tonight after Brian Marwood puts the cat out. We'll bring you confirmation of all the signings and departures on VMC as the club confirm what the stories are.

City have drawn Aston Villa at home in the third round of The Capital One League Cup. The tie will be played week commencing 24 September.

Joe Hart, Joleon Lescott and James Milner have been called up to the England squad for the World Cup Qualifying matches against Moldova and Ukraine.

UPDATED UPCOMING FIXTURES:
all times East Manchester

TOMORROW 17h30 QPR, The Etihad, PL
Sa 15 Sep 15h00 Stoke, The Britannia Stadium, PL
Tu 18 Sep 19h45 Real Madrid, The Bernabeu, CL
Su 23 Sep 16h00 Arsenal, The Etihad, PL
TBC Aston Villa, The Etihad, LC3
Sa 29 Sep 15h00 Fulham, Craven Cottage, PL
We 03 Oct 19h45 Borussia Dortmund, The Etihad, PL
Sa 06 Oct 12h45 Sunderland, The Etihad, PL
Sa 20 Oct 15h00 West Brom, The Hawthorns, PL
We 24 Oct 19h45 Ajax, Amsterdam Arena, CL
Sa 27 Oct 17h30 Swansea City, The Etihad, PL

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