Crespo to stay at Inter next season

MILAN, May 30 (Reuters) Argentina striker Hernan Crespo will remain on loan at Inter Milan next season after parent club Chelsea agreed to honour a deal, the Italian champions said today.

Crespo scored 14 league goals this season to help Inter run away with their 15th scudetto.

''F.C. Internazionale have received a fax from Chelsea stating that Argentine striker Hernan Crespo is free to remain with the Nerazzurri for the second season of his two-year loan deal,'' Inter said on their Web site.

Crespo, in Basel ahead of Argentina's friendly with Switzerland on Saturday, was thrilled.

''I am very happy. Staying at Inter was what I wanted,'' he said. ''I would like to thank Chelsea first of all for their help, and Inter for confirming their faith in me.'' The 31-year-old originally signed for Inter from Lazio in Sept. 2002 but then moved to Chelsea the following year.

He failed to adapt to English football though and returned to Italy on loan in 2004/05 season, this time with AC Milan.

After a successful season he was recalled by Chelsea's Jose Mourinho and made more of an impact in the Premier League, but his heart remained in Italy and he went back out on loan to Inter in Aug. 2006.

REUTERS TB KP2117