Crespo quits Chelsea for Inter
Monday, August 7, 2006
Article summary
FC Internazionale Milano have brought Hernán Crespo back to Italian football on a two-year contract after the 31-year-old striker was allowed to leave Chelsea FC.
Article body
FC Internazionale Milano have brought Hernán Crespo back to Italian football after he was allowed to leave Chelsea FC.
Back and forth
The Argentina striker spent the 2002/03 campaign with Inter, scoring seven goals in 18 games. He left for Chelsea in a €24.25m deal the following season, only to return to the Italian city to sign for AC Milan on loan in 2004/05. He went back to Chelsea last summer but never fully settled in London. The 31-year-old made a total of 49 Premiership appearances, scoring 20 goals, yet recently acquired Italian citizenship and speculation has been rife about his return to the country.
Busy summer
Crespo will have a two-year contract with Inter, although Chelsea have retained the right to re-sign him next summer. He has been capped 59 times by Argentina, scoring 32 goals. Part of that tally were his four appearances and three strikes at the 2006 FIFA World Cup. As champions of Italy, following Juventus's relegation, Inter will enter the UEFA Champions League in the group stage. The Nerazzurri have been busy this summer with other recruits including defender Fabio Grosso and midfielder Patrick Vieira.
