Premiership big spenders Manchester City have secured the services of Roque Santa Cruz from Blackburn on a four-year deal, after the striker passed a medical and rejoined his old mentor, Mark Hughes, the club’s official website has said.
 
The Paraguay striker previously had a successful spell under Hughes before and their professional relationship has been rekindled again. Reportedly, Hughes is ‘delighted’ at the deal, which sees the second major transfer signing for City this summer, following the successful completion of Gareth Barry’s transfer, who was also a subject of flirtatious advances from Liverpool.
 
The first time Mark Hughes set his sights on the talented player was two years ago when he bought the highly-rated forward from German giants Bayern Munich. He landed the player at Ewood Park, securing him for two years at Blackburn Rovers and he returned the trust by netting 23 goals in 43 appearances in what was hailed by Rovers fans as a tremendous debut season.
 
Since Hughes' departure from Blackburn and arrival at City, he allegedly never quite forgot the antics of his ‘revelation’ and attempted on attracting him over to the Eastlands last summer and during the January transfer window but to no avail.
 
Finally however, Blackburn and City had agreed on a deal and player and manager were reunited - the 27 year old was under contract with Blackburn until 2012 but had a buy-out clause in his contract for 18 million pounds sterling, a contract which was coined with the help of Hughes himself and facilitated the transfer to City in turn.
 
The Paraguayan said for the BBC: "It's been close to happening for a while. Now I can focus on doing my best for the club."
 
"I know the kind of football Mark Hughes wants to play and the kind of character he is - he's a winner, he wants to make things happen and be successful," he said.