Source: PA
Kean dreams of another Batistuta
Blackburn boss Steve Kean claims he has brought an Argentinian player in the style of the legendary Gabriel Batistuta to Ewood Park.
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."
