Roque Santa Cruz: Ex-Man City striker joins Malaga

Roque Santa Cruz

Roque Santa Cruz has joined Spanish side Malaga on a free transfer.

The Paraguay striker, 31, signed a three-year deal at the La Liga club.

Manchester City released him in June four years after paying £18m to sign him from Blackburn. He played just 20 league games for City, scoring three goals and last appeared for the club in November 2010.

Last season Santa Cruz scored eight goals on loan at Malaga under new City boss Manuel Pellegrini.

Santa Cruz joined Blackburn Rovers from Bundesliga side Bayern Munich for £3.8m in 2007. He scored 23 goals in his first season in England.

Despite an injury-hit second campaign, former Rovers boss Mark Hughes signed him for Manchester City two years later.