the 2010–11 season, and he made it clear that he wanted to leave. Mark Hughes, who by then was manager of Fulham, had insisted on signing him, but a transfer never materialized. From September 2010 to January 2011, he had made just one league appearance, a 0–0 draw against Birmingham City on 13 November where he had been substituted onto the field for James Milner in the 66th minute. He had also made one League Cup appearance in a 2–1 away loss to West Bromwich Albion on 22 September. In December, he received a loan offer from Serie A outfit Lazio for the remainder of the season, though it was rejected as he preferred a permanent move away from Eastlands. Loan to Blackburn On 14 January 2011, Santa Cruz returned to Blackburn on loan for the remainder of the 2010–11 season. After Santa Cruz passed his medical, he said, "When Blackburn showed an interest in me, it was very easy to decide," to BBC Radio Lancashire. His first game for Blackburn was in a 2–0 away loss against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on 15 January, where he was substituted onto the field in the 46th minute for Nikola Kalinić. He made one appearance for Blackburn in a 3–1 FA Cup loss against Aston Villa on 29 January. He made nine appearances for Blackburn, as they finished in 15th position of the Premier League. 2011–12 season Loan to Real Betis In August 2011, after being linked with moves to Leeds United and Celtic, Santa Cruz was loaned to Real Betis for the 2011–12 La Liga season after completing a medical on 27 August. He debuted for Betis in a 1–0 win against Mallorca on 10 September 2011, where he was substituted onto the field in the 75th minute for Jorge Molina. He scored his first goals for Betis, a brace, in a 4–3 win against Real Zaragoza on 22 September. He made his debut in the 2011–12 Copa del Rey in a 1–0 way loss against Córdoba on 13 December. His third league goal came in a 2–0 away win against Atlético Madrid, where he had been substituted onto the field for Beñat in the 72nd minute and scored his side's second goal in the 90th minute on 18 December. In December, Brazilian Série A outfit Cruzeiro had made a bid for Santa Cruz and had also offered Manchester City their