Batistuta to answer Inter's call

Internazionale FC will sign Gabriel Batistuta from Serie A rivals AS Roma as a short-term replacement for his fellow Argentinian Hernán Crespo, who is injured until the spring, on Monday.

Transfer imminent
According to the club's official website, the 33-year-old striker will join Inter after tests this week confirmed that Crespo's thigh injury would keep him sidelined until April. Roma's director of sport, Franco Baldini, confirmed last night that discussions had taken place with Inter over Batistuta, who was an unused substitute in the Giallorossi's 2-1 Italian Cup win at Vicenza Calcio.

'Sole goal'
Club president Massimo Moratti confirmed on Friday that the deal is on the verge of being finalised. "I believe that the negotiations regarding Batistuta's transfer are almost complete. We are doing this because we want to have a better squad in order to achieve our sole goal - winning the Scudetto." Goalkeeper Francesco Toldo, a former team-mate of the Argentinian at AC Fiorentina, added: "He's a world-class player and will prove that. Let's hope he can repeat his previous successes here."

Ineligible for Champions League
Batistuta will not be eligible to play for Inter in the UEFA Champions League having already played in the competition for Roma. However, with Crespo out, Inter coach Héctor Cúper was seeking another forward to play alongside Christian Vieri. Alvaro Recoba remains another option but is not considered an out-and-out striker.

Peripheral figure in Rome
Batistuta has become a peripheral figure at Roma, where his contract is due to expire at the end of the season. Accordingly, they were more than happy to let him join Inter, who will pick up his salary, worth approximately €250,000 a month. Batistuta will become a free agent in the summer, when he will probably leave Italy after 12 years.

Scoring record
Batistuta, who has scored 181 goals in Serie A, joined Roma in 2000 after nine seasons with Fiorentina and made an immediate impact, scoring 20 goals in 28 matches that term as the Giallorossi won only the third Scudetto in their history.

Scudetto success
Speaking last night, Capello praised the Argentinian's contribution: "When I arrived at Roma I said to Franco Sensi that we would win the Scudetto if we signed Batistuta. I was right. I can just thank Batistuta for what he did for this club."