Wednesday 2 February 2011

Kean: I've signed the new Batistuta

Blackburn Rovers boss Steve Kean claims he has bought an Argentinian player in the style of the legendary Gabriel Batistuta.

Mauro Formica, a 22-year-old forward, has joined from Argentina side Newell Old Boys in a deal thought to be worth £3.5million after Rovers snatched him from under the nose of Monaco.

Kean said Blackburn fans should be excited by Formica's arrival and revealed he used Paraguayan striker Roque Santa Cruz to persuade the young player to choose the Lancashire town over the bright lights of Monte Carlo.

Kean said: "I've seen him a number of times and he reminds me of a young Batistuta. He twists, he turns, he can score with left foot, his right foot, he can play as a main striker or even wide or in the hole.

"He's an all-round attacking player and probably the most exciting, and one of the best, young players in Argentina.

"Diego Maradona had called him up for one of their friendlies so I think when you can get in squad like Argentina's it shows your calibre.

"I found out that Mauro had followed Roque's career so I got Roque to give him a call and tell him a bit about the way we worked at the club and to consider coming to us instead of going to Monaco, and it paid off."

Kean said 19-year-old striker Ruben Rochina, who had been in the Barcelona B team, would also get a chance this season to show his qualities though neither he and Formica will face Tottenham tomorrow night and both are unlikely to feature in the first team before the weekend after next.

Kean, who also revealed that in-demand defenders Phil Jones and Chris Samba have both agreed new contracts in principle, watched Spurs get beaten 4-0 at Fulham on Sunday but is not expecting an easy ride tomorrow.

He added: "They are a fantastic side and a fantastic squad but I know they are struggling a bit in the centre-back position.

"I watched them at Craven Cottage on Sunday and sometimes when your opponents have a heavy defeat like that you are always wary of them being a bit angry and aggressive and try to bounce back quickly so we'll have to be on top of our game even though they've got a few players out.

"We can't sit back - we have to seize the game by the scruff of the neck."

Santa Cruz will miss the match - he is out for a couple of weeks with a groin strain, and Ryan Nelsen and Gael Givet will have fitness tests before the game.

Meanwhile, Kean said El-Hadji Diouf's loan move to Rangers was a new challenge for the 31-year-old.

He said: "I think it's important for him to go and play a little bit more regularly at this stage in his career, especially at such a good club. He's probably suffered from the emergence of Junior Hoilett into the first team.

"He's got an opportunity to go and make an impact up there, they have some big games coming up and I think it will be an exciting time for him."

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