Samba switches for Europe hope

Chris Samba has claimed he left Blackburn Rovers for Anzhi Makhachkala due to the owners’ ambition to play in the Champions League.

The 27-year-old said that under new manager Guus Hiddink the club can play at the ‘highest level of European football’ and do what Manchester City have done in England.

“They may be a little club, but they have ambition,” Samba told The Sun.

“This is a team with a realistic chance to play at the highest level of European football.”

“They have the ambition and the money. They bought me for 12 million pounds – plus Roberto Carlos, Yuri Zhirkov and Samuel Eto’o.”

“There will be more big names coming, I know of two which will surprise people that we will sign in the summer. We’d like to do what Manchester City have done.”

The defender is rumoured to have doubled his wages in leaving Ewood Park and signing a four-year deal worth 100,000 pounds a week in Russia.

And, despite submitting a transfer request in January, the Congolese stopper said he did not want to look back in his career.

“I don’t want to have any regrets. I’m 27 and must look to make the most of my years,” Samba said.