CRAGNOTTI: CRESPO 99% CERTAIN

Speaking to La Gazzetta dello Sport, Cragnotti said that he expects the Argentinian star to be lining up against Roma's big summer signing and international team-mate Gabriel Batistuta in the Rome derby next season.

Cragnotti said: "Sure, Parma ask too much money for Crespo but we are at the start of a very important week.

"I am 99% certain that in the derby there will also be an Argentinian derby between Batistuta and Crespo. I want to settle the deal for before I go on holiday on the 31st July."

Commenting on the lengthy negotiations over the player, and the inability to persuade Chilean star Marcelo Salas to go in the opposite direction as part of the deal Cragnotti added: "It seems that nobody wants to go to Parma.

"First there was the problem of Fabio Capello now Salas, I don't understand it, Parma are a great club.

"The amount that they want for Crespo seems too much, but they want players and money and we will have to see if we can keep [Parma president] Calisto Tanzi happy."