Blackburn Rovers' loanee Carlos Villanueva has joined Dubai-based club Al Shabab.

The Chilean midfielder says he is disappointed to be leaving Ewood Park but things did not work out as he had hoped and will now set his sights on becoming a strong player in the Middle East.

"My idea is to have more chances for playing more frequently and having the chance to play every week," he said.

"If I do well I expect to have chances for being recalled to the national team and thinking I might have the chance of playing in the World Cup next year.

"Obviously it hasn't been easy to take this decision, because I was playing in the best league in the world and playing in England was a dream made true.

"It was very difficult to make this decision, but I didn't have anything clear for the next season and I wasn't happy with the idea of having to return to Chile because I don't want to play there again."