A knee problem forced the striker to wait until October for his first Blues start following his £17million move from Blackburn.
And injuries continued to hamper his progress, restricting him to seven starts and four goals in his first season at Eastlands.
But Santa Cruz is looking to put all of that behind him – and help Paraguay reach the World Cup quarter-finals for the first time in their history.
He was part of the side who reached the last 16 in 2002 before losing to Germany, four years after being knocked out at the same stage by France.
This time, Santa Cruz and Co will face Italy, New Zealand and Slovakia in the group stages.
And the City striker believes a first-ever run to the last eight is not out of the question.
He said: “This is probably the best national team in Paraguay’s history.
“It’s a great chance to show the world how much we’ve improved.”
It is also a chance for Santa Cruz to impress City boss Roberto Mancini won the world stage.
The 28-year-old has acknowledged that he expects Mancini to make a few additions to the Blues’ squad over the summer.
But he wants to help the Blues’ push for a top-four finish. And before then, he is keen to be a part of a pre-season return to Germany.
City have confirmed they will face Borussia Dortmund at the Westfalenstadion on August 4.
And Santa Cruz said: “This game will be a fantastic one for us, and it will be a tough challenge for us as we get ready for the new season.”
Do you think Santa Cruz will come good for City? Have your say.
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Showing comments 1 to 25 and replies | View All
citypedro, manchester (08/06/2010 at 09:12)
dave stretton (08/06/2010 at 09:21)
PJS, Oz (08/06/2010 at 09:25)
He looked fit, keen and hungry something he never showed in a City shirt when he was supposedly fit.
Crock will be playing against garbage defences of NZ, Italy and Slovakia and would be a good bet to get 3 or 4 goals in the group stages (not to mention being the designated Paraguay penalty taker if he starts).
With the season he's had no surprise to see him or Robinho high on the goal charts, maybe even worth a flutter if you can get 50/1. Lets just hope he is in the goals so we get some value when we move him on this summer.
No chance we'll get anything close to the 17mm however. Flip a coin between him and Jo as the worst City signing in recent years (Jo actually may have scored more goals?)
FANTASTICO., manc`land (08/06/2010 at 09:34)
simples
Uwe the Goat, Brighton (08/06/2010 at 09:36)
Njinsky Blue, Spain (08/06/2010 at 09:39)
44andnotseenowtreally, Heaton Misery (08/06/2010 at 10:04)
Evan Georgiou (08/06/2010 at 10:06)
Karem Roen! (08/06/2010 at 10:30)
mark jones (08/06/2010 at 10:41)
the real marjones.
BI POLAR BLUE getting better (08/06/2010 at 11:01)
The true story of his transfer from Blackburn has still not come out, would even City pay 18mil for a player with his injury record??????????please tell me NO
PJS, Oz (08/06/2010 at 11:04)
In another time and another World Cup, yes i would agree the Italians are the best. But gone are the likes of Scirea, Vierchowod, Ferrara, Baresi, Nesta, Maldini, Cannavaro (in his prime).
This is perhaps the worst post-war World Cup Italian defence and anyone who saw their last 2 friendlies vs the Swiss (where they also showed its one of their worst attacks) and the Mexicans showed they will get chopped up (the likes of Hamsik, Weiss, Barrios and even Crock will give them endless problems)
Chiellini is the glue that holds them together and he is not 100% fit. Lippi insists on picking Zambrotta who was the best in his position at Euro 2000, a decade ago. Cannavaro is an absolute liability, its so sad to see one of the best defenders of the last decade not go out gracefully as he should have. And whether Lippi plays Zambrotta on the right or left will determine who gets the nod on the other flank: Maggio or Criscito, who's inexperience at this level will possibly be exposed. Its a shambles of a back 4
I have the highest regard for the Italians as producers of World Class defenders, but their only top defender in his prime Chiellini isn't 100% fit and bodes well for the other teams in the group as far as I'm concerned.
Santiago Street, (08/06/2010 at 11:05)
Roque stood pitchside in his cargo shorts and sandals smiling charmingly at everyone, looking every inch the impossibly handsome bone idle son of a colombian drug baron
It proved to be an accurate precursor of his season.
bluemoon risin' (08/06/2010 at 11:14)
st helens blue(exiled) (08/06/2010 at 11:20)
Santiago Street, (08/06/2010 at 11:39)
Roque stood pitchside in his cargo shorts and sandals smiling charmingly at everyone, looking every inch the impossibly handsome bone idle son of a colombian drug baron
It proved to be an accurate precursor of his season.
Karem Roen! (08/06/2010 at 11:51)
Anyone heard?
black and blue, manchester, where else? (08/06/2010 at 11:52)
i would keep most of the players on as we need a big squad as we should have at least 50-60 matches next season.
also, i wouldn't want us to get rid of someone for one poor season and then find them playing brilliantly for another team next season.
give everyone a chance (except maybe onuoha - transfer list him at 8M) and if they don't show enough next season, ship them out.
gary's middle finger!!, Levenshulme Blue (08/06/2010 at 12:11)
xman (08/06/2010 at 12:28)
ROGERMELLIE, DENTON (08/06/2010 at 12:43)
Joe pesh, Roe green (08/06/2010 at 12:45)
Bluedozer, Chorlton (08/06/2010 at 12:50)
and quite frankly why do i care if he scores a hatful of goals for paraguay at the world cup, i want england to win. is the world cup some kind of pre-season fitness regime for him to get his form back for city? more likely he'll come back injured and we pay for his rehab.......
he was a good player in germany but his best years are behind him. we cannot carry passengers like bojinov/jo/bianchi/samaras and put up this crap from people who get so defensive everytime someone has a harsh opinion of them......guess what they all have in common? total waste of money by blind managers and produced sweet fa for CITY!!
for the record, RSC has 1 fit knee, he was saving his 2nd knee as someone else pointed out for his country, not the club. if he wants a future with City i'd make sure he retires from international football like bellamy was intending to do. we pay his inflated wages and he gives nothing back in goals or effort. and then we have to see him waddle off to the next copa america or whatever he wants to............
Bobby Johnstone's left kneecap, Ex-Hong Kong (08/06/2010 at 12:50)
BLUEOZ , GOLD COAST (08/06/2010 at 13:00)
All the better for us when he returns for the new season. Give the guy a chance.