Argentine icon Hernan Crespo has backed Lucas Beltran to shine in Serie A as the 22-year-old River Plate striker prepares to join Fiorentina following the departure of Arthur Cabral to Benfica. Advanced negotiations are presently taking place between the Viola and the Millionaires after the Argentine giants reached an agreement in principle with the player himself, although Roma joined the race late.
Crespo, who is no stranger to the pressures of the Italian top flight, having moved to Parma in 1996 from River Plate, assured of Beltran’s skills in an exclusive with La Gazzetta dello Sport (via ViolaNews).
“Beltran is not a signing to be taken lightly, just to be clear. As a striker I know him quite well, he has an eye for goal.”
Crespo doesn’t doubt Beltran’s ability to shine in Serie A.
“He’s a tough guy: if he’s used to the atmosphere at the Monumental, I don’t think he will have particular problems in Serie A. Fiorentina play attacking football and this can help Beltran a lot, because he will have many opportunities to show his skills.”
Vincenzo Italiano is counting on the Fiorentina management to sign Beltran at the earliest, just days after sending Cabral out and onboarding M’Bala Nzola to alter the frontline. The young striker could follow in the footsteps of Mateo Retegui, as he also possesses an Italian passport, and perhaps even emulate Crespo’s legendary career.
More must-reads: