Source: SKY_Sports
Villanueva on the move
Chilean star Carlos Villanueva is set to depart Blackburn at the end of the season and move to the Middle East.
Rovers boss Sam Alladryce inherited Villanueva after he was signed on a season-long loan by Paul Ince during his short tenure at Ewood Park.
After taking charge Allardyce has used the midfielder sparingly playing him in just eight league matches.
Now Blackburn have passed up the option to keep him and allowed him to find a move elsewhere.
Skysports.com understands that rival Premier League clubs also wanted Villanueva - but his work permit situation was complicated.
The permit granted last summer was tied to Blackburn and could not be transferred and, because he has fallen out of favour on the international scene, getting a new permit would have been hard.
Therefore Villanueva has now agreed a move to Dubai-based club Al Shabab.
The deal is a permanent one and is worth around £3million, with the player having agreed a four-year deal.
Al Shabab director Khalid Hamid confirmed that a deal for Villanueva had been struck.
"Villanueva is an exciting young player with superb technical skills," Hamid told The National newspaper.
"He was the best player in Chile before his move to Blackburn, where he has not been given the opportunities he deserved.
"He was probably encouraged by his countryman Jorge Valdivia (Al Ain's attacking midfielder) to accept the offer.
"The chance of working with coach Toninho Cerezo also convinced him to take up the offer."
