McCarthy attacks former club

New Blackburn signing Benni McCarthy has criticised former club Porto for constantly blocking his ambitions to play in the Premier League.

McCarthy, 28, has seen protracted transfer negotiations with West Ham and Everton come to nothing, as well as a previous failed bid by Blackburn for his services.

A Champions League winner with them under Jose Mourinho, McCarthy believes Porto constantly prevented his exit despite knowing how he felt.

The South Africa striker said: "I wanted to go and I was getting to the stage when I was feeling a little unhappy because every time it got to the point of moving to the Premiership they wouldn't let me go.

"They knew my ambition to play here, and that I wanted to test myself again, but they would not let me leave. I got frustrated, and that leads to unhappiness.

"That means a club does not get the best out of a player. It gets to the stage where things were not going to plan, the way I wanted."

McCarthy has now finally made a £2.5m (?3.7m) move to Ewood Park and added: "Blackburn kept knocking on the door. They showed interest and never gave up.

"They have been following my career and I want to give them my best years still left in football."

And McCarthy also revealed the frustrations of playing in a Portuguese league that was uncompetitive.

He said: "I was not unhappy to leave, it was the right time. I have won everything it is possible to win in Portugal and it was the end of my ambition.