By Chris Burton Last
updated: 1st August 2008
Villanueva: Bags of ability
Blackburn have completed the signing of Carlos
Villanueva on a season-long loan deal from Audax Italiano.
The midfielder, who was recently voted Chile's footballer of the
year, could seal a permanent £4million move if he impresses during
his time at Ewood Park.
The 22-year-old is a favourite among YouTube skills-seekers, and
Paul Ince admits that a number of the Rovers squad have already
checked out their new team-mate online.
"He's a very skilful and exciting player," said Ince. "Hopefully
it's a signing that will excite our fans.
"Some of the lads have watched him on YouTube and he looks
different class.
"Getting him here excites me and shows the kind of football I'm
looking to play at Blackburn."
The Rovers boss knows from his own experience as a player that
it can take time to settle in a foreign country, having played for
Italian giants Inter Milan.
Ince added: "He's a talented kid and the fact that we've only
managed to get him out on loan initially says it all, because his
club would have preferred to keep him.
"So we'll see how it goes. It's always hard when you come to a
new country. I went through that at Inter Milan and it took me a
few months to settle down.
"I don't want to put too much expectation on the lad because it
will take him time to settle in. But I believe we've got a decent
player."