Hernan Crespo has confirmed that he’s rescinded his contract with Parma during an emotional Press conference on Thursday.
The striker, nicknamed Valdanito, has decided to bring an end to his Gialloblu career after no longer featuring in the first team plans of the outfit.
Hernan Crespo has confirmed that he’s rescinded his contract with Parma during an emotional Press conference on Thursday.
The striker, nicknamed Valdanito, has decided to bring an end to his Gialloblu career after no longer featuring in the first team plans of the outfit.
“I’m sad, I would have preferred not to do this but I had to for the Parma fans,” he said as he shed tears this afternoon.
“It is not easy for me to today put a full stop at the end of my Parma adventure and 19 years of football at the top level.”
The Argentine, who will be 37 in July, re-joined the Stadio Tardini outfit in January 2010 – the club who first brought him to Italy in 1996.
“President Tommaso Ghirardi and director Pietro Leonardi asked me to join in a difficult period for Parma, there was a need for a jolt and I wanted to return home.
“Things went well seeing as we finished eighth and I was the side’s top scorer.
“Today the side is in tranquil waters and they have shown over the last six months that they can survive without me.
“I leave calmly, in the knowledge that I am not part of the technical project here anymore and because Parma are in good health.
“I didn’t want to be a weight for Parma and it’s not nice to be left on the bench or in the stands, that’s why I took this decision.”
It was widely believed that the South American would be leaving Italy to try an experience in India, but he insists nothing has been decided.
“I have options, but I didn’t rescind my contract to go somewhere else,” he noted. “I have offers from India, China, Qatar and America. But nothing has been agreed.
“I’ll continue to listen as I want to continue playing football because I enjoy it.
“India? They want to launch football as a product over there and they’ve invited me to take part in their championship, but I haven’t signed anything and I won’t necessarily go.”
Ghirardi also paid tribute to the River Plate youth product who was applauded by journalists during the media conference.
“We’re not talking about anything tragic, but I am honoured that I was the President who brought Crespo back to Parma,” the Tardini chief noted. “He’s a real man, on and off the pitch.
“He’s decided to stop playing football at the highest level, to reflect on things, to stop for a bit, to decide on what he wants to do next.
“We’ll always have an excellent relationship with him and there will be trouble if anyone says we dumped him.
“Whenever he wants to sit behind a desk, there will be a contract here waiting for him.”
During spells at Parma, Lazio, Inter, Milan and Genoa, Crespo netted 153 League goals in 340 games. A total of 72 of those came during 162 matches for the Gialloblu.