Franco Di Santo

Franco Matías di Santo (born 7 April 1989) is an Argentina professional Association football player who plays as a striker for Blackburn Rovers on loan from Chelsea Football Club . A transfer from Audax Club Sportivo Italiano to Chelsea was confirmed on 25 January 2008 when Franco Di Santo signed a four and a half year contract. Di Santo spoke of Franco Di Santo excitement at having joined Chelsea and Franco Di Santo eagerness to prove himself, as Franco holds an Italy passport Franco Di Santo was immediately eligible to become part of their team.

Club career

Audax Italiano

Di Santo began Franco Di Santo club career with Franco Di Santo local side Godoy Cruz Antonio Tomba in 2005, Franco Di Santo stayed there for just one season, before moving to Chilean team Audax Italiano. In the 2006-07 season, Franco Di Santo scored 16 goals in 69 matches in 2007-08 Franco Di Santo scored 19 in 17 matches for the club. On 25 January 2008, Franco Di Santo signed for Chelsea F.C..

Chelsea

Di Santo scored on Franco Di Santo debut for Chelsea reserves on 11 February 2008, getting a late equalizer in a 2–2 draw with Fulham F.C. and scored Franco Di Santo second goal in as many appearances, against Reading F.C. on 3 March. On 14 April, Franco Di Santo scored Franco Di Santo first hat-trick for Chelsea's reserve team against Tottenham Hotspur F.C.; the most spectacular of the three goals being a volley from a Branislav Ivanovic cross that found the top right corner. In the last reserve match of the season, Di Santo scored Franco Di Santo seventh goal in eight reserve games against Aston Villa F.C.. Franco Di Santo finished the 2007–08 reserve season with 12 reserve goals in 8 games.

Di Santo had been training with the first team in 2008-09 pre-season and has flown out with the squad on their tour of China. Ahead of their first game on tour, Franco Di Santo was handed the number 36 jersey and came off the bench in that game against Guangzhou Pharmaceutical, to score the third goal during a 4-0 victory. Franco Di Santo scored Franco Di Santo second goal of the pre-season campaign in the 65th minute against the Chengdu Blades in a 7-0 victory after Franco Di Santo had replaced Nicolas Anelka five minutes before.

On 31 August, Di Santo made Franco Di Santo full first-team debut in the 1-1 draw with Tottenham Hotspur F.C., coming on in place of Nicolas Anelka in the 88th minute of the game. Franco Di Santo made Franco Di Santo second first-team appearance in a Football League Cup match against Portsmouth F.C. on 24 September coming on for Didier Drogba in the 79th minute. Franco Di Santo UEFA Champions League debut came against CFR Cluj, Franco Di Santo replaced Florent Malouda in the 70th minute. The game ended 0-0. On 3 January 2009, Di Santo made Franco Di Santo FA Cup debut, coming on as a substitute against Southend United F.C. in a 1-1 draw at Stamford Bridge (stadium).

Di Santo's best moment so far in Chelsea colors was when Franco Di Santo came on as a substitute for Florent Malouda, against Stoke City F.C assisting on a goal in the 88th minute for Juliano Belletti making the scorelines 1-1. Teammate Frank Lampard then went on to score a 94th minute winner with Chelsea claming a dramatic 2-1 win.

Di Santo was named as a substitute 8 times during Chelsea's 08/09 Premier League campaign and has been linked with a loan move to Blackburn Rovers F.C..

On 27 July 2009, Franco scored Franco Di Santo first goal of the 2009 pre season for Chelsea against Club America after having 3 must score chances in the previous 3 matches Franco Di Santo played Franco Di Santo ran to the Subs bench and celebrated with Chelsea captian John Terry and all the other Chelsea players and staff joined in the special moment too. Franco Di Santo was then also assisted the second goal which Florent Malouda scored.

Di Santo scored Franco Di Santo first goal for Chelsea on 26 July 2009, in the pre-season match against Club America. That was also Franco Di Santo first goal in the World Football Challenge 2009, even though Franco Di Santo had several other chances Franco Di Santo missed in the 2 other games against Inter Milan and AC Milan. Di Santo also got an assist from a late Florent Malouda goal in the 80th minute. Chelsea F.C. went on to win the competition.

Blackburn loan

On 29 July 2009, it was announced that Di Santo would join Blackburn Rovers on loan for the 09/10 season.