Roque Santa Cruz will continue to 'give everything' for Manchester City as Lazio monitor his progress.
Man City striker staying professional
Roque Santa Cruz will continue to 'give everything' for Manchester City over the coming months as Lazio monitor his progress.
Lazio were interested in signing Santa Cruz during the summer transfer window but a move failed to materialise, leaving the Paraguayan striker to sweat on his future at Eastlands.
There was speculation that he might not be included in City's 25-man squad for the first half of the Premier League campaign but in the end he did make the cut.
Lazio president Claudio Lotito later shrugged off his club's failure to land Santa Cruz, however, the player is no longer dwelling on what might have been.
The 29-year-old's agent, Jan van Baal, says his client is now determined to shine at City and win a place back in Roberto Mancini's side.
"There were problems with Lazio, and the deal did not happen for this reason," Van Baal told
calcionews24.
"Santa Cruz is a great professional and he will give everything for Manchester City.
"Does the fault lie with Lotito? Everyone can be to blame, depending on your point of view."
Appropriate
Lotito admitted last week that Lazio would now wait until the window reopened in January before deciding whether to rekindle their interest in Santa Cruz.
And sporting director Igli Tare would like Lazio to be playing well enough that they do not require reinforcements.
"In January we will see if is appropriate to make a transaction, perhaps with Santa Cruz," Tare told
Il Tempo.
"The same goes for defence. We may speak about it, but I hope there is no need."
Garrido
Javier Garrido was one player to make the move from City to Lazio over the summer, after fellow left-back Aleksandar Kolarov went in the other direction.
Garrido is currently sidelined due to injury but Tare expects him back in action soon.
"I have no doubts about the value of the player," explained the official.
"He is still experiencing the muscle problems he suffered in England. This week he will return to train with his team-mates."
