Hernan Crespo has said he wishes he ‘could have spent more days’ at Chelsea but admits his time in the Premier League was ‘very hard’.
Crespo signed for Chelsea from Inter Milan for a fee of £16.8m in 2003, following the club’s takeover by Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich. The Argentine was recognised as one of Europe’s top centre-forwards, and had cost former club Lazio a world-record fee in 2000.
However, he struggled to adapt to the demands of the Premier League, scoring 25 goals in 73 games across two seasons that sandwiched a loan spell at AC Milan.
Crespo has admitted both he and his family struggled in England, but wishes he had ‘another life’ to better ‘understand’ English football and culture.
“I always say I wish I had another life where I could have spent more days at Chelsea,” he said to the BBC.
“I am an older man now, and I would like to come back to understand it better. It was very hard for me personally at that time. My days at Chelsea, and for my family, were not easy – but the fans were amazing.
“England lives football the right way. When I saw that medal, I remembered everything – from being a kid, the sacrifices, the dressing room with [Gianfranco] Zola, [Gianluca] Vialli and [Ruud] Gullit before me, then arriving at that moment with Mourinho, [Didier] Drogba, a great captain like John Terry, and a great midfielder like Frank Lampard.
“I will never forget that moment and I am very proud to have been part of it. When I saw that medal, my whole life flashed before my eyes.”
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