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Roque Santa Cruz will most likely be in the market for a new club this summer. Malaga recently lost its appeal to UEFA against their European competition ban for violating Financial Fair Play rules --for overdue payments to other clubs and Spanish tax authorities-- and has requested for the team to pay $395,800 in penalties.
They've also lost manager Manuel Pellegrini, who is sure to move to Manchester City in due time. Roque was in fact, actually on loan from the same Manchester City at Malaga and with the English club exercising its financial power and ambition, bringing in more and more expensive, world-class talent and the crowded striker position; they have decided to release the aging striker.
Granted, Santa Cruz has stated his ambition to continue at Malaga -even going as far as to state that he would take a pay cut to do so-and there seems to be other European clubs --mainly German-who seem to be interested in the striker. If the Revs could somehow entice the Paraguayan to Boston, it would be a tremendous coup and addition for the team.
He would essentially become the main striker, taking the space of the now-infuriating Jerry Bengtson, allowing Agudelo to play as a winger or a second striker and holding the ball up to allow players like Fagundez more freedom and a target to pass to.
The player's career has seen more ups than downs and he has been and still is a strong, clinical striker who has the strength and awareness to be a target man and the positional sense to be lethal inside the box. He has played for Bayern Munich, Blackburn Rovers (where he made his name), Manchester City, Real Betis and Malaga, so he's very experienced at the age of 31, and though he only has 26 goals for his country, he's extremely experienced at 96 caps.
He's also a proven winner, winning the Champions League in 2001, five Bundesliga titles with Bayern Munich, the DFB-Pokal four times, LigaPokal twice, FIFA intercontinental cup, coming runners up with Paraguay in the Copa America in 2011 as well as winning the individual honor of Paraguayan Footballer of the Year in 1999 and the Blackburn Rovers F.C. Player of the Season in 2007-2008.
After suffering from aggravating knee injuries and uncertainty about his future, a move to America, specifically to the New England Revolution might be what Roque needs to revitalize his career: a change of scenery, a more prominent role and the chance to come back into the spotlight. The move would be great for both parties, the Revs would get a striker who is able to shoulder the responsibilities of the one-striker system and the player would get a new lease on life.