Crespo completes transfer to Genoa

Argentine striker Hernan Crespo on Monday underwent medical tests to complete his transfer from Italian champions Inter Milan Milan to Genoa, the ANSA news agency reported. "Genoa are an improving team who did very well (finishing fifth this season)," Crespo said. "For me it's a new challenge. I'll put into this adventure all my professionalism and the will to do well."

"I talked with president (Enrico) Preziosi and he immediately convinced me. He decided to bet on the man, beside the player. I'm not making promises to the fans, only that I'll put on the pitch all the professionalism that I have always showed to have."

Crespo, who turns 34 on July 5, played the past three seasons with Inter. The champions now welcome from Genoa Argentina striker Diego Milito and Brazilian midfielder Thiago Motta.

The Legends : Diego Maradona (Argentina)

Diego Armando Maradona is by many regarded as the greatest player in the history of the game. He was born on October 30th 1960 in Lanus outside Buenos Aires. There he played for Los Cebollitos (The little onions), before he joined Argentinos Juniors. At 16 he was Argentina's youngest-ever international when he played against Hungary. Two years later he captained the World Youth Cup winners and was soon transferred to Boca Juniors for £1.000.000. The success continued and he was voted South American Player Of The Year in 1979 and 1980.

In 1982 Maradona joined Spanish giants Barcelona for a world record transfer fee of £5.000.000. The same year the World Cup was held in Spain and Maradona made his World Cup debut on his new home ground Estadio Nou Camp. The tournament didn't end as Maradona had hoped and he was sent off against Brazil in the second phase, as Argentina bowed out.

In his first season for "Barca" he helped them win the league, league cup and the Super Cup. Two years later, another world record fee of £6.900.000 took him to success-starved Napoli, and in 1987 they won a league and cup double. A year earlier he had captained Argentina to a second World Cup triumph. It was a World Cup that forever will be synonymous with Maradona. He scored 5 goals in that tournament, including two against England. Both are among the most controversial in World Cup history. The first was the infamous "Hand of God" and the second probably the greatest goal ever scored in a World Cup game, as he ran from his own half showing magic displays and leaving seven English players for dead.

Success continued with Napoli as he again steered them to a league title and in 1989 even a triumph in the UEFA cup. In 1990 the World Cup was held in Italy and Maradona captained Argentina to yet another final. The Germans were once again the opponents and this time they proved too strong for the Argentineans. That loss was to be the beginning of the end for Maradona. Two drug scandals have created black spots on his name and reputation. Several come-backs have been tried since 1991 and after helping Argentina qualifying for the 1994 World Cup in USA, Maradona looked fit for fight again. A marvelous goal against Greece in the first match gave proves for that.

But in the next game against Nigeria he was caught for drug abuse, and the World Cup story of Diego Armando Maradona got a sad ending. That match meant that Maradona equaled the record of matches played in the World Cup of 21, held by Uwe Seeler and Wladislav Zmuda (Later beaten by Lothar Matthäus). Maradona retired from international football after that with a gallery of good and bad memories. But he is by neutral football lovers regarded alongside Pelé as the greatest player of them all.

MARADONA BANGGAKAN 'PENAMPILAN SEMPURNA'

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Pelatih timnas Argentina itu merasa timnya bermain 'sempurna' dalam kemenangan telak 4-0 atas Venezuela. Gol dari Lionel Messi, Carlos Tevez, Maxi Rodriguez, dan Sergio Aguero memberikan kemenangan dalam partai kompetitif pertama bagi Diego Maradona, Sabtu (28/4).

Maradona pun mengaku, "Ini lebih baik dari yang saya impikan. Itu partai sempurna dan saya bangga dengan tim ini. Kami menciptakan banyak peluang dan kami bermain baik. Tak mudah mencetak empat gol."

Bintang Barcelona Lionel Messi diberikan nomor mistis 10 yang sebelumnya pernah digunakan Maradona, dan Maradona gembira, "Saya katakan kepada Messi: 'Nomor 10 milikmu' dan ia menjawab (dengan penampilan di lapangan). Jika ia bermain seperti itu setiap pertandingan, itu akan menjadi suatu kegembiraan."

Meski juga tak lupa memuji kontribusi Carlos Tevez melalui keterlibatannya dalam tiga gol dan mencetak satu gol, Maradona mengaku timnya masih harus tampil lebih baik terutama di lini belakang.

"Kami harus bekerja keras di pertahanan. Tim Venezuela tidak kuat dalam penyelesaian akhir, tapi kami dapat mendapat masalah jika kami tak memperbaiki area itu," ungkap pemilik Gol Tangan Tuhan itu.

Dalam laga tandang ke Bolivia, Maradona memberi isyarat, "Sepertinya kami akan kembali menggunakan empat bek daripada tiga pemain belakang."

Ejekan terhadap Juan Sebastian Veron oleh pendukung tuan rumah di Buenos Aires tampaknya cukup mengganggu kegembiraan Maradona. "Ya, mereka tak menyukai saya karena Veron tampil, tapi usahanya tak layak mendapat reaksi seperti itu. Itu menyakiti saya. Mereka yang mengejeknya harus menyesali apa yang mereka lakukan," tegas Maradona.