EXCLUSIVE: Al Nasr are on the verge of signing former Blackburn, Bayern Munich and Malaga striker Roque Santa Cruz on a free transfer.
The Paraguay international has been without a club since his contract with Premier League side Manchester City finished at the end of last season.
Santa Cruz endured a couple of frustrating seasons at the Etihad Stadium following his £17.5million (Dh97.4m) move from Blackburn in 2009 but two successful loan spells in Spain, with Real Betis and Malaga, have helped to revive his reputation.
“Santa Cruz is an international striker and for the last two years he has played first-team football with Betis and Malaga and he is one of the best strikers available right now,” a Nasr official told Sport360° on Tuesday night.
With Brett Holman confirmed as the club’s Asian player for next season, the Blue Wave are on the look-out for firepower following the departure of Italian forward Giuseppe Mascara.
Sport360° understands that incoming Nasr coach Ivan Jovanovic will have the final say on the transfer, but with the Serb expected back in Dubai this week a deal could be finalised in the next 72 hours.
The official added: “He is very close to finishing the deal with Al Nasr and we hope we can complete the move within the next three days.”
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Santa Cruz has not been short of offers since leaving City, with Italian side Bologna, English outfit Stoke City and ambitious Turkish side Kasimpasa – who have already signed former Liverpool winger Ryan Babel – showing an interest.
Hamburg are also keen, however the Paraguayan’s wife is understood to be unhappy about a return to Germany. Hamburg sporting director Oliver Kreuzer has given the player until today to make up his mind, with Eren Derdiyok lined up as an alternative option.
“I told his advisers that Roque should signal by Wednesday whether he comes or not. Then we must know where we are,” the sporting director told the Hamburger Morgenpost.
With such interest on the table from clubs within Europe, it would be quite a coup for Nasr to sign a player who last season scored 12 goals in all competitions while helping Malaga to the quarter-finals of the Champions League.
Santa Cruz would certainly be expected to be a goal threat in next season’s Arabian Gulf League. The 31-year-old Paraguayan scored more than 50 goals in an eight-year stay in Munich before moving to England with Blackburn Rovers.
The Paraguayan – who has scored 26 times in 92 games for his country – played some of his best football at Ewood Park, finding the net 26 times in his first two seasons in England before his ill-fated move to City.
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