Crespo: Higuain is my heir

The 36-year-old Parma man retired from international football in 2007, leaving Argentina short of a world-class centre forward to lead on from him and Gabriel Batistuta. Higuain, however, has emerged as a real candidate to fill his shoes, with a hat-trick against Chile in last week's World Cup qualifier and a glut of goals in Spain at club level confirming the potential shown by his four-goal haul at the 2010 World Cup.

Speaking to Ole, Crespo revealed he always believed that Higuain had the talent to follow in his and Batistuta's illustrious footsteps.

"It makes me very happy because I have always seen Gonzalo as a similar player to myself. Even more than that, I cannot lie, I said that I saw him as my successor when he had only just made his debut in the Primera with River, even before he netted twice against Boca [in the Apertura 2006 Superclasico]," the former Inter, Lazio and River Plate frontman explained.

"Of course he was not the same player as he is today, but you could already see something different in him from the start, as a goalscorer like I am you realised that he had a magnificent future.

"And I did not get it wrong! Now he is an extremely complete No. 9, with great pace, aerial ability, excellent technique and with the talent to score with both feet. I hope he can keep up his current form."

The apparent ease with which Higuain, not to mention international colleague Lionel Messi at Barcelona, finds the net in Spain has led some observers to question the overall level of La Liga in relation to the two giants,l but Crespo believes the pair's success is down solely to their own virtuoso talents.

"Although a lot of people do not believe it, it is not at all easy for players like Higuain or Messi to score goals for Real Madrid or Barcelona," he explained.

"As good as the team-mates around them may be, every goal is extremely valuable. And in the Seleccion I think he has more than earned the place he has now won for himself."

Crespo scored 35 goals in 64 appearances for Argentina, placing him second in the country's all-time list behind Batistuta.

Realistically speaking do you guys think Pipa can break into the top two on the all time scoring charts for Argentina?

His goal per game ratio for them is pretty good and he is still quite young.

I don't see what's stopping him. With Messi on his side it's possible, maybe even probable.

Fun Fact Higuain's first dream was to be a singer.

I could see Messi and Higuain both breaking into the top 5

Fun fact: my brother's roommate saw Higuain debut at the monumental, and he thought he was the worst young player he ever saw

LOL

Another fun fact. Pipa is a god in futsal. As a kid every shot he took would end in the back of the net.

Fun fact: my brother's roommate was also there for his second match, and he still thought he was the worst young player he had ever seen.

In the third match he kicked ass

he's french anyways

Another Fun Fact: Higuain takes one hour out of his time after every training session to sign autographs and chat with fans outside Valdebebas.

Zealous wrote:LOL

Another fun fact. Pipa is a god in futsal. As a kid every shot he took would end in the back of the net.

Shows his godlike accuracy in front of the goal.

Another fan fact: Only Jack Daniels, Immaculate_Mole, Zealous, Lex and Vivastpauli

Are rich and handsome, we are a very select and understood group

Another fun fact, I only have one more post than mole, well two now

Immaculate_Mole wrote:Another fan fact: Only Jack Daniels, Immaculate_Mole, Zealous, Lex and Vivastpauli

Are rich and handsome, we are a very select and understood group

That can true only if you are not jealous of CR7.

Lionel Messi wrote:Another fun fact, I only have one more post than mole, well two now

He's got you beat by 3 now

BarrileteCosmico wrote:

Lionel Messi wrote:Another fun fact, I only have one more post than mole, well two now

He's got you beat by 3 now

2

Lol Crespo.. Guaranteed Higgy leaves him in the dust

fun fact.. benzema> higuain

I laughed so hard I nearly fell off my chair. Crespo "my heir" LOL! Is he actually categorising himself as a striking great of Argentinian football?!

What Crespo is thinking: "Yeah I'm totally up there with Battigol and Kempes" kmn

Zealous wrote:Fun Fact Higuain's first dream was to be a singer.

And his second dream was to play for Real Madrid

It's not like he's the second highest goalscorer in argentina's history

He can surpass the record, sure he can. He still has a great scoring ratio and barely any caps. He's back and shape and should be starting every Argentina game.

Fun fact: Argentina's only historical loss to Venezuela was a few weeks ago. Higuain played 90 mins

BarrileteCosmico wrote:It's not like he's the second highest goalscorer in argentina's history

Or didn't win one notable tournament with Argentina.

jiopsi wrote:

BarrileteCosmico wrote:It's not like he's the second highest goalscorer in argentina's history

Or didn't win one notable tournament with Argentina.

Neither did Messi, and your point