Allardyce: Roque wanted out

June 26, 2009

Roque Santa Cruz

BLACKBURN boss Sam Allardyce has admitted new City signing Roque Santa Cruz wanted out of Rovers from the day he took over.

The Blues paid £17m for Paraguay international Santa Cruz on Monday having missed out on the 27-year-old in the January transfer window.

"I think from day one where I came here he made no bones of the fact he wanted to leave," Allardyce told Sky Sports.

"From the club's point of view and the position we were in it was very important that he didn't leave in January.

"He didn't play as much as we hoped anyway, but he did make a contribution into our difficult task in staying in the Premier League.

"We managed to do that sometimes with him, but a lot of the time without him."

| Submit Comments | Comments (21) |

Showing comments 1 to 21 and replies | View All

joel,French blue (26/06/2009 at 16:31)

Perhaps Sam, because he did'nt want to be any part of your crimes against football!!

IREMEMBERBERTTRAUTMANN (26/06/2009 at 16:31)

And Sam's point is?

Batmanho, Robinhos big brother, Bat Cave, Brazil (26/06/2009 at 16:33)

I wonder just how serious his injury was since he wasn't allowed to come in the January window? Fat Sam could've got more money off us back then, was this Rocque's Revenge for not letting him go?

Ron Jeremy, upper ramsbottom (26/06/2009 at 16:38)

I think id hand in a transfer request with big fat sam as manager with his tedious football

Taggart , Ulverston (26/06/2009 at 16:45)

With Allardyce coming in as your manager who wouldn't want out....

LA Blue, LA (26/06/2009 at 17:19)

Didn't he sign a new contract right after fat sam came in??

maddogblue, Cheadle (26/06/2009 at 17:20)

I'd want to leave if you took over at a Club I played for Sam.

Richard Dunne at City for ever please (26/06/2009 at 17:30)

Of course Roque wanted out, anyone would want to be away from Moaning Minnie Sam! Sam Allardyce and Steve Bruce were the biggest whingers in the Premiership last season. Oh after that man who manages Trafford United of course!!

Bugsy Blue (26/06/2009 at 17:34)

He didn't want to say and be managed by an oath like you!

Kippax 36, High Heath (26/06/2009 at 21:09)

Of course he wanted to leave once he'd heard that the mighty Man City were after him! "What would you do"? His absence from the (Blackburn) team was a way of preserving his ability to pass the rigorous physical he knew he'd after to endure to secure a transfer away from T'Blackburrn' to the more prolific City. And who can blame him? 'He will be a superstar at Eastlands', welcome Rocky, we saltute you Sir'.

Farawayblue, West Sussex (26/06/2009 at 21:40)

I think that if fat Sam walked in to my club I'd walk out too!

Farawayblue, West Sussex (26/06/2009 at 21:41)

In fact on second thoughts I would run

Tony Colemans Barman, Manchester 19 lost in Oz (26/06/2009 at 22:51)

Perhaps he didn't understand the "never mind the ball get on with the game" style you bring to the game Sam, by the Joey's on the market.

Portsmouth Blue (26/06/2009 at 23:13)

Sure he wamted out as much as the toon fans wanted fat sam out

Phil , Sacramento, CA U.S.A. (27/06/2009 at 00:23)

The only thing I can intuit from Fat Sam's comments is that Roque is a pretty sensible guy.

wizzballs, oxford (27/06/2009 at 02:41)

off the record, he had an agreement that he could leave. big fat sam decided to over-ride that. a bit much to turn round and have a go at him for not wanting to be there, but that's about BFS's level.

Note for diary January 1, 2017 United go bust, Manchester (27/06/2009 at 03:04)

no he signed a contract when ince was manager

Tommy "Chopper" C, Oz. (27/06/2009 at 05:02)

Batmanho.......You bet it was his way of getting back. Rocky did the right thing by City, he got the op done while he was on their payroll and most fo his recovery as well. He should be right for the start of pre season which he wouldn`t have been if he had the op been delayed any longer. Ay , he`s a canny buisiness man that Sam!

mr bump, badlands (27/06/2009 at 09:42)

there were some on here who wanted him as manager god forbid....they know who they are.

The Devil's Advocate, M11 born and bred, East Stand Lower 104 (27/06/2009 at 10:42)

Fat Sam has also become Ferguson's mouthpiece - baconface makes the ammo and BFS fires it. However, he is not clever enough to realise what's happening; another reason not to hang around.

roy harper (27/06/2009 at 12:25)

Maybe he was too injured to play when Sam arrived last season, and both of them knew that he wouldn't make the January medical, so they kept him in wraps and repaired him to get as much as they could in this window. Whatever, I think it's City's gain, because I think there are still plenty of goals in him. I think that he probably suffers from being too good at too young an age. He was footballer of the year in Paraguay when he was only 17. When he was still growing. Stress and growth together will take their toll. He's lucky to be where he is, physically, but if he's managed according to his body for the next few years, he could do very well.

()

Report

Manchester City