Santa Cruz wants Tevez & Eto'o

Rovers striker welcomes Eastlands competition

Last updated: 1st July 2009   Subscribe to RSS Feed

Santa Cruz wants Tevez & Eto'o

Santa Cruz: Bring on the competition

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Roque Santa Cruz insists he would welcome the signings of Carlos Tevez and Samuel Eto'o, but has warned the pair he will not be giving up his place in Manchester City's front-line.

Mark Hughes finally landed his man this summer when he returned to Blackburn to sign the Paraguayan in an £18million deal.

Santa Cruz is expected to be the focal point of City's attack next season but with offers reportedly on the table for high-profile pair Tevez and Eto'o, competition could be fierce for a starting spot.

The 27-year-old has encouraged his new paymasters to continue with their free-spending plans, firmly of the opinion he will be good enough to cement his spot in Hughes' starting XI - regardless of who comes in.

"I'm working hard with the physios trying to make sure I am ready in time for the new season," he told The Sun.

"I'd be happy if we signed Tevez and Eto'o.

Astute signings

"Tevez is a fantastic player - if he does come it will be such a great thing for the team because of the kind of player he is.

"He's a very hard worker, he does everything for the team and only wants to look good as long as the team is successful. If we get him it will be a big point in our favour.

"He is just the type of player the boss Mark Hughes likes - hard working with plenty of skills.

"It's the same with Eto'o. He's shown his quality at Barcelona.

"He scored in the Champions League final against United so there is no need for me to talk about how good he is."

While attention has been focused on Hughes' squad building this summer, City's Abu Dhabi-based backers are eager to take advantage of the expected explosion of interest in the Eastlands outfit.

Endemol Sport, the group responsible for Big Brother, has signed a "multi-year" deal with City for a major website launch on Wednesday, that will include a site in Arabic, and to develop TV ideas.