The Blackburn striker Roque Santa Cruz has admitted he would relish the opportunity to link up with Mark Hughes and Robinho at Manchester City. Santa Cruz, 27, was brought to Ewood Park by Hughes during the Welshman's time as the Rovers manager, which came to an end when he left for Eastlands in the summer.
City's subsequent takeover by the Abu Dhabi United Group has left Hughes with an effectively bottomless war chest, which would not have been dented to any significant degree by the signing of Robinho on the final day of the last transfer window. The Brazil player's arrival from Real Madrid followed Hughes' unsuccessful attempts to sign Santa Cruz, although he is widely expected to try again in January. And the Paraguayan admits he would jump at the chance of a reunion with his former manager.
"Manchester City is a team that has a very important financial support that is getting prepared for winning the title," Santa Cruz told a radio station in his homeland. "I am very happy at Blackburn but I like the idea of playing for a team that will be fighting for important objectives." Meanwhile, Robinho admits he feared he would find a "wasteland" when he joined Manchester City. He had heard horror stories about the city being deprived - and expected the worst when he arrived at the airport last month.
But apart from the wet weather, Robinho says he has been surprised with his new home. "Yes, the weather is an issue," said the striker. "It rains a lot and it looks grey a lot of the time. But I'm getting used to that. "After what people had been telling me, I feared the worst. I thought I would arrive and find nothing but wasteland," he said. City announced the appointment of four new board members - the board chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak, Simon Pearce, Victor Restis and Martin Edelman who who was with the Miami Dolphins NFL franchise when they were taken over.
The executive chairman Garry Cook retained his membership while Taweesuk Jack Srisumrid remained as the director and Bernard Halford continued in his role as the club secretary. The director Brian Bodek was to step down. Cook said: "We welcome the new chairman and board members, following the change in ownership. The new board marks the start of an exciting era." * PA Sport
