The following, Samba handed in a transfer request following a bid from Queens Park Rangers, which was rejected. On 14 January, Samba missed Blackburn's victory over Fulham, though manager Steve Kean attributed this to a stomach virus. On 17 January 2012, Blackburn turned down Samba's transfer request and issued a statement saying that the Rovers captain was not for sale. The player, himself, issued a statement the previous day, saying, "In my five years at Blackburn Rovers I have always given 100% in every game I have played. I have had several opportunities to leave but I have always stayed. I have decided now is the right time for me to pursue a new challenge and I have asked the club to respect my decision and allow me to leave. I thank the fans for their support and I hope they feel I have served them and their club well." Samba continued issuing a statement to leave the club, citing not "100 per cent for the club" anymore. As a result, he was dropped from the starting line–up and never played for the side again. By the time Samba left the club, he made 185 appearances and scoring 18 times in all competitions. Samba said about his departure, saying: "Blackburn is still in my heart; it was a big part of my life. I am sorry where they are now. It was very difficult, but then Steve Kean was doing quite well in the Championship and they sacked him. Now they have sacked Henning Berg. The main thing: I am sorry for the fans. We had a good identity together, and now they have lost a bit of that identity". Samba also credited both Manager Hughes and Allardyce as the two managers, who played a major role in his football career.