Barça will be losing Henrik Larssen over the summer, as the Suede has already decided to return to Sweden. Hernán Crespo is on a list of possible substitutes.
That said, there are a lot of other possible substitutes: Ajax? Jefferson Farfan, not to mention Diego Milito from Zaragoza and Villareal?s Diego Forlán. Nevertheless, Crespo has been added to the list of replacements. The fact that Crespo would be allowed to leave Chelsea has clearly alerted Barça, who consider that he fulfils the requirements for the type of forward for which Barça are looking.
Crespo is considered a ?pure number 9?, with a lot of experience in Europe, not to mention a sense of goal. He?s played in Italy and England, and always in the best teams (Milan, Inter, Chelsea and, at the time, Lazio). Barça are also favourable to the fact that Crespo holds both Argentine and Italian nationality, so he wouldn?t take up one of the places for non-EU players in the Barça squad. In a League which allows only 3 players on the pitch of non-EU nationality, this is important.
?El Mundo Deportivo?, the Catalonia-based sports daily adds that Crespo?s people have already spoken to Barça to sound out the possibility that our Argentine striker joins Barça next season. The newspaper adds that, although Crespo has frequently said that he would like to return to Italy, he wouldn?t give up the possibility of playing for the Champions of Europe.
Furthermore, Barça don?t want to spend that much money on a striker, and it is considered that Crespo would be cheap since Chelsea want to offload him. But, says ?El Mundo Deportivo?, José Mourinho wouldn?t be so keen that Crespo leaves for Barça.
We think that the Catalan paper is exaggerating José?s pettiness, not to mention Crespo?s real worth. If Barça are really interested, and offer a fair price, we don?t think that José would stand in Crespo?s way. That said, the rumour in Spain is that Manchester United reject Diego Forlán is the number one priority, although to land the Uruguyan, Barça will have to fend off interest from Newcastle and Liverpool.
Share this article
