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Crespo signs deal with Inter Milan
Argentina striker Hernan Crespo signed a two-year deal with Inter Milan on Monday, transferring from English champion Chelsea.
- Indo-Asian News Service
- Updated: February 25, 2007 10:36 AM IST
Read Time: 2 min
Milan:
Argentina striker Hernan Crespo signed a two-year deal with Inter Milan on Monday, transferring from English champion Chelsea.
The 31-year-old forward returns to his former club on a free transfer, although Chelsea has reserved the right to recall the player at the end of the first season.
Crespo played for Inter in 2002-03 before transferring to Stamford Bridge in a 16.8 million pound deal in August 2003.
Chelsea had said that it would not sell Crespo - under contract for another two years - unless it received a suitable offer, despite the striker's stated desire to return to Italy.
Crespo spurned Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich's offer of an improved contract to stay with the London club last month.
Crespo is married to an Italian and owns a house outside Milan.
Crespo is Inter's third big preseason signing. The club has already lured Italy defender Fabio Grosso from Palermo and France midfielder Patrick Vieira from Juventus on four-year deals.
Inter has also been linked to strikers Luca Toni of Fiorentina and Zlatan Ibrahimovic of Juventus.
However, following news of Crespo's arrival, Inter striker Obafemi Martins asked to be placed on the transfer list, reports said.
The player's agent, Patrick Bastianelli, told the Apcom news agency that English teams Tottenham, Newcastle and Portsmouth, or Spanish club Valencia, are possible destinations for the Nigeria striker.
Crespo spent last season on loan at AC Milan. He has also played for Italian sides Lazio and Parma - where he won the UEFA Cup in 1999. (AP)
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