Former Parma and Inter striker Hernan Crespo suggested that Argentina would be able to thank Italy if they won the World Cup in Qatar.
The Albiceleste are one of the favourites to win the competition, adding Serie A stars Lautaro Martinez and Paulo Dybala to a squad also containing players like Lionel Messi and Julian Alvarez. With the Azzurri failing to qualify for the World Cup, many in the Italian peninsula have pledged their support to Argentina, a nation that contains millions with Italian ancestry.
Speaking to La Gazzetta dello Sport, Crespo discussed what Serie A means to Argentina and why they’d be able to thank Italy if they won the World Cup.
“For an Argentinian child who loves football there has always been only one goal: to arrive in Italy, to break through in Serie A, to become an idol for Italian fans.
“It doesn’t matter if the Spanish La Liga or the English Premier League can be considered more glamorous leagues, we want to conquer San Siro, the Olimpico, the people of Turin, Florence, Genoa or Naples.
“Italy, for us, is the port of arrival, just like Buenos Aires was for the emigrants from your/our country.
“Obviously, now that the World Cup is about to begin, I don’t know if the Seleccion will win the tournament, but if they do, I think part of the credit goes to Italy, which has given many Argentine players the opportunity to become true champions.”
Serie A representatives Joaquin Correa and Nicolas Gonzalez were forced to withdraw from the Argentina squad due to injury. Dybala may miss the first game due to a slight muscle issue.
Argentina will face Saudi Arabia on November 22, Mexico on November 26 and Poland on November 30.