Hungry Crespo hopes for Milan goal feast

"You are just a normal guy when you go out in London and, if people do recognise you, they give you a little bit more respect. But in Italy being a footballer is a 24-hour thing. Everything you do and everywhere you go, you are always a public figure. So if you are in a restaurant and it's full they will try and help you because you are a footballer, and also because it's good publicity for the owner."

Since returning to Italy, Crespo has been unable to reach the heights that made him one of the most potent strikers in Serie A. Though he has scored nine times in 19 league matches - the goals have not come with the regularity that characterised his time at Parma and Lazio.

Indeed, if Filippo Inzaghi and Andriy Shevchenko were not injured it is doubtful that Crespo would make Milan's starting XI tomorrow tonight.

All of which points to an uncertain future for the Argentine, who is still Chelsea's player and could, theoretically, return to Stamford Bridge for the start of next season. But that is highly unlikely.

Despite scoring 10 goals in 19 Premiership appearances - a better strike rate than any Chelsea forward this year or last - Crespo failed to capture the imagination of supporters, not least because of his poor work rate. That approach was never likely to meet with the approval of Jose Mourinho, and when Crespo reported back for pre-season training two days late his fate was effectively sealed.

However, Di Matteo sees things slightly differently: "I don't think that it was Mourinho's choice that Crespo went back," he said.

"I think Crespo made his mind up to start again. Now he's back with his mentor, Carlo Ancelotti [the AC Milan manager], who has a lot of faith in him. That makes a big difference to a player to know that your manager believes in you.

"But Crespo is a quality striker and I think if he had stayed in England he would have showed his true value. I just think he came to England at a difficult time when there were so many things going on."

Chief among which was the anticipated departure of Ranieri, though in reality Crespo was more likely to be concerned at the exit of his fellow countryman Juan Sebastian Veron. "I will depend on Seba a lot," said the 29-year-old on the day that he signed for Chelsea. Hence, it was hardly surprising that when Veron was sent packing to Milan - albeit Internazionale - Crespo swiftly followed.

Both are still a drain on Chelsea's wage bill with the Premiership leaders contributing significantly to their salaries in Italy - around 70 per cent in the case of Crespo.

The true cost of Chelsea's investment in Veron and Crespo will not become apparent until the summer when both will probably secure permanent cut-price moves to Italy.

Chelsea hope to get a £10m fee for Crespo and, in the meantime, he will happily pick up his £94,000-a-week wages.

Tomorrow, at Old Trafford, he has the chance to show Chelsea what they are still paying for.