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The Lancashire Telegraph
News, sport and entertainment from all over East Lancashire
Rovers to tell Old Boys that Formica is not for sale (From Lancashire Telegraph)
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Rovers to tell Old Boys that Formica is not for sale
8:02am Wednesday 19th December 2012 in Sport
By Andy Cryer, Blackburn Rovers reporter
BLACKBURN Rovers will tell Mauro Formica’s former employers the Argentine midfielder is not for sale – as interest grows in a number of the club’s foreign imports.
Newell’s Old Boys are understood to be keen on bringing Formica back to Argentina having sold him to Rovers for in the region of £3.5million in January 2011.
But Rovers believe the 24-year-old has a key role to play in attempting to revive the club’s flagging promotion hopes and are likely to rebuff any formal interest in him.
Interest has been received from clubs abroad in summer signings Nuno Henrique and Diogo Rosado, with neither yet to establish themselves in the first team squad.
Portuguese centre back Henrique has yet to feature for the first team, having been brought to Ewood Park from Academica in August by global advisor Shebby Singh.
Italian Serie A ouftit Siena are understood to have enquired about the defender’s availability, with Henrique himself frustrated at a lack of opportunity this season.
Singh also played an instrumental role in bringing Portuguese midfielder Diogo Rosado to Rovers in August, signing him from Sporting Lisbon after lengthy negotiations.
The 22-year-old has briefly featured for the first team, and was on the substitutes bench for Saturday’s defeat at Blackpool, but will want more chances to impress if he is to stay in East Lancashire.
Portuguese top flight outfit Braga are believed to be ready to offer cash for the playmaker in an attempt to lure him back.
Singh is keen for both players to remain at Rovers, having been behind their signings during Steve Kean’s regime, but the duo are believed to be frustrated at a lack of playing time.
Sources close to Formica have told the Lancashire Telegraph the player would consider a return ‘home’ if Rovers and Newell’s Old Boys agreed a price, but that prospect is unlikely.
Boss Berg is expected to bring some new faces to Ewood next month, with Manchester United loanee Josh King set to be the first permanent signing.
Exits are also inevitable as Rovers bid to freshen things up with their promotion hopes fading rapidly.
Comments are closed on this article.

Comments (43)
8:08am Wed 19 Dec 12
shedhead64 says...
8:17am Wed 19 Dec 12
chickenfarm says...
8:17am Wed 19 Dec 12
bburnrover says...
We took two seasons to get out of this league last time we dropped in it so a fresh input of quality players and goodbye to the Portugese ,Fulham players and our two centre backs should give us the impetus we require to make a fresh start next season.
8:20am Wed 19 Dec 12
A Darener says...
8:52am Wed 19 Dec 12
Brfc24138931 says...
9:09am Wed 19 Dec 12
stephenrover says...
Must be a HORRIBLE atmosphere behind the scenes now. They have to get some decent management in. Just not sure that any players could dig us out of this mess. How could anybody have a commitment to the current shambolic setup?
And if Italian Serie A sides want Nuno Henrique, why isn't he getting a look in?
9:19am Wed 19 Dec 12
GAZHAY says...
9:20am Wed 19 Dec 12
BeardwoodB says...
You simply can't trust these idiots!
Plus I've heard the DJ at the staff Christmas Party made Berg look a fool, and before you all comment, it's unconfirmed that Shebby was also the DJ.
Ssssssssshhhhaaabba!
!!!
9:20am Wed 19 Dec 12
Road Runner Road Runner says...
Players leaving, staff leaving, fans leaving thus the last one out switch the lights off !
Just when is this nightmare going to end ?
Arte et labore
9:54am Wed 19 Dec 12
leitchy says...
It's not helping the team by shouting at them...be vocal and back the lads!!
Henning keep putting your foot down.....preferably on Shebbys head!!
9:56am Wed 19 Dec 12
Lancs - pensioner says...
WHAT!
I thought HB was the manager, I have said it before Shebby will destroy BRFC, he can't be trusted, he won't answer any direct questions, sad times to see the club sinking without trace.
Even the press are picking up what a shambles BRFC has become.
I have not said this for a long long time but it's time to unite and start another Boycott before we go under and believe you me this time us not that far away.
RIP BRFC
9:56am Wed 19 Dec 12
leitchy says...
Only go and support if you are there to SUPPORT!! Not criticise.
9:57am Wed 19 Dec 12
noddymcleod says...
If Berg snapped, good fo him.
I'm more concerned about the team performance on the field and the revelations in Cryers pieice that Singh is doing an Anderson, signing on people he's not seen and flogging them on.
Formica isn't ever going to make it here. He does have talent but no stomach.
10:03am Wed 19 Dec 12
Riverside 7 says...
He is lightweight, has no pace and is certainly not a right-sided midfielder (winger) where he has been played recenly.
I recall writing to our former Deputy CEO Paul Hunt (remember him?) 12 months ago saying that Formica would never be a regular in the Premier League. He is now struggling to make an impact in the Championship.
However, he is not alone.
The club also paid a massive agent's fee when they bought Ruben Rochina. Our old friend JA claimed that for a purchase price of £2M (of which £1.6M was JA's fee) Rovers were getting a £10M footballer.
I wonder how much he is worth now?
I would dearly love to know who made money from the signing of our Portuguese contingent in the summer.
AC's article indicate that Shebby Singh was involved in at least some of the signings so did he benefit financially?
If so he should resign immediately.
I have said in the past that if any other English football club had signed 2 players from Portugal eyebrows would have been raised.
Rovers signed 6 or 7 from this 'un-tapped market'.
Where are all they now?
Is the weather too cold for them?
Nuno Gomes scored a couple of goals early in the season but he has not played for some time - although he has regularly been on the bench.
In view of his age I never expected him to play every week but he must be on top wages and for what?
With the exception of Fabio Nunes we have seen very little of the younger Portuguese players.
All they appear to have done is to suppress the development of our home grown youngsters who got to the final of the FA Youth Cup last season.
10:04am Wed 19 Dec 12
leitchy says...
Leave it to the professionals.
Taxi for Shebby!!
10:09am Wed 19 Dec 12
eddie the eagle says...
As for Formica let him go he is not strong enough for the Championship.and suspect the same applies to other foreign imports.Lets get rid and start again
10:39am Wed 19 Dec 12
Blackburn fans love horses says...
Excellent use of irony.
More hilarious Blackburn news in the Daily Mail this morning - truly the comedy gift keeps giving.
Merry Xmas
10:44am Wed 19 Dec 12
BeardwoodB says...
10:51am Wed 19 Dec 12
1riversider says...
On the same note, how about giving Shabby and the other two Stooges free transfers to a club in Outer Mongolia - as far away from Ewood as possible. P**s up and brewery come to mind whenever these three idiots are mentioned.
SHYSTERS GET OUT OF OUR CLUB NOW
10:53am Wed 19 Dec 12
A Darener says...
10:56am Wed 19 Dec 12
Ray Gunn says...
11:14am Wed 19 Dec 12
jinkyjase says...
11:22am Wed 19 Dec 12
A Darener says...
Well this Saturday I don't think Christmas will have anything to do with it being the lowest gate of the season!
Who in their right mind will continue to put up with the dross we are being served at the moment?
11:49am Wed 19 Dec 12
Stone Island: says...
http://www.lancashir
etelegraph.co.uk/new
s/burnley/9956847.Bu
rnley_man_caught_wit
h_pornographic_image
s_of_horses/
12:17pm Wed 19 Dec 12
1952 rover says...
1:39pm Wed 19 Dec 12
Miss-You-Uncle-Jack says...
1:50pm Wed 19 Dec 12
JPB says...
2:10pm Wed 19 Dec 12
merlinrabbit says...
2:42pm Wed 19 Dec 12
Harwoodstblue says...
Singh signing players from Portugal ??? I thought that was the managers job deciding which players are needed.
Who is picking the team / substitutions? (strange team selections ) whilst others not been given a chance.
Now we know why it all went t*ts up and Kean was going along with it all the time. They wanted a yes man as we thought, then THEY could get on with running (ruining ) the club.
It appears Andy Cryer knew what was going on so why was nothing said before ?
2:59pm Wed 19 Dec 12
dangerous dave says...
OUT WITH SHAW AGNEW SINGH BERG BLACK HENDRY VENKYS YES THE LOT OF THEM!!!
3:21pm Wed 19 Dec 12
MxMave says...
4:23pm Wed 19 Dec 12
GAZHAY says...
5:01pm Wed 19 Dec 12
A Rover 45 years and over says...
5:26pm Wed 19 Dec 12
French Rover says...
I would like to have seen what Rosada is like though....
5:59pm Wed 19 Dec 12
Return of the Magnificent se7en says...
6:05pm Wed 19 Dec 12
LanghoDAN says...
6:57pm Wed 19 Dec 12
icannotrace says...
And you wonder why Henning threw a wobbly at the Christmas do.
Rotten to the core
9:15pm Wed 19 Dec 12
blueblooded says...
No point ruining the reputation of the rest of us decent supporters by turning up and hurling abuse at the team.
9:18pm Wed 19 Dec 12
blueblooded says...
Its Venky's club.
The club you knew doesn't exist anymore.
We're all doomed to playing Evostick football etc.
Christ.. Even our dingle groupies comments are starting to sound less repetitive and pointless!
9:42pm Wed 19 Dec 12
Return of the Magnificent se7en says...
Yep Dangerous dave out for me.
I must say that bullsheite app you have that puts all bullsheite in caps is working a treat, does it work on XP as well as windows 7 ???
8:39am Thu 20 Dec 12
dangerous dave says...
10:14am Thu 20 Dec 12
Fidel Castro says...
9:38am Fri 21 Dec 12
rovertillidie says...