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maltatoday, SUNDAY, 17 JULY 2016 45 Sport SPORTTODAY FOOTBALL Argentina will be competitive without Messi, says Crespo ARGENTINA will fight for ma- jor honours despite Lionel Messi retiring from international soc- cer after the disappointment of last month's Copa America final shootout loss to Chile, the coun- try's former forward Hernan Cre- spo has said. The 29-year-old Messi, a five- times World Player of the Year, is Argentina's top scorer with 55 goals and although he has played in three Copa America finals in 2007, 2015 and 2016, plus the 2014 World Cup final, Argentina have lost them all. Despite media reports suggest- ing the Barcelona forward is re- considering his decision, Crespo, 41, said the focus should now be on ensuring Argentina remain a force and take the next step to end the country's 23-year wait for a major trophy. "The Argentina national team is very competitive. If you watch the last three tournaments - two Copa America finals and one World Cup final - you are com- petitive, you arrive in the final of great events," he told reporters on Saturday. "I hope to see our national team win but I don't want to say that Messi was at fault, it's not good. Messi played very well. He is the top scorer of the national team. He is the best player in the world. It's unlucky. "But it's not about Messi. It's about the last 23 years the na- tional team never won (a major trophy). Yes they won the Olympic games (in 2004 and 2008) but, at the same time, we have lost a lot of finals. However, we are still com- petitive. "This is just the way. I think maybe next time we will win." With European clubs poaching players from South America at a relatively young age, Crespo, who played for clubs across the conti- nent, including Chelsea and AC Milan, urged aspiring youngsters to stay level-headed when they are in the spotlight. "The world is changing now ... Now it's worse because in six months when you start, somebody (tries to) buy you, and in Argenti- na you need this kind of money to maintain (hold onto) that level of player," added Argentina's third- highest goalscorer, who plays in India's Premier Futsal league. "Maybe they are not mature enough to come to Europe but you never know which is the right way. You need to fill your passion. You need to follow that. It's not about sacrifice, your passion is enough to play football. I changed not on- ly the country but the continent when I was 21." Former team mate Hernan Crespo celebrates with Messi during their time with Argentina Chelsea sign France midfielder Kante from Leicester Dortmund bid for Gotze return CHELSEA have signed France midfielder N'Golo Kante from Premier League champions Leicester City on a five-year con- tract, the Londoners said on Sat- urday. Kante, 25, is new manager An- tonio Conte's second acquisition, following Olympique Marseille's Belgium striker Michy Batshuayi, and arrives after playing at Euro 2016. "I am so happy to have signed for one of the biggest clubs in Eu- rope. It's a dream come true for me," Kante told www.chelseafc. com. "The opportunity to work with Antonio Conte, a brilliant coach, and some of the best players in the world was simply too good to turn down." The clubs did not disclose fi- nancial details but British media put the fee at 32 million pounds ($42.20 million). Kante was Claudio Ranieri's first signing at Leicester, joining for six million pounds after two seasons at Caen. He had a successful season last term, helping the 5,000-1 outsid- ers win the title for the first time before joining up with France. Kante played in the opening match but was banned for the quarter-final, came on in the semi and was an unused substitute in the final which the hosts lost 1-0 to Portugal after extra time. Kante played in all but one of Leicester's league games and made most overall tackles and interceptions in the competition. His efforts saw him named in the PFA Team of the Year. "My first season in English foot- ball was very special and now I hope to go on to achieve even more during my time as a Chelsea player," said Kante. His campaign contrasted with Chelsea's dismal season as they finished a lowly 10th and failed to qualify for Europe. Technical director Michael Emenalo said: "N'Golo is a fan- tastic signing. He is a perfect fit in terms of Antonio Conte's phi- losophies and the style of football he wants to play. "For a player of his age he has already built up a wealth of expe- rience and his exceptional quality will without doubt be a great ad- dition to the team." Born in Paris, Kante played for amateur side Suresnes until he was 19 when he moved north to join Boulogne. He was spotted by second-tier Caen and moved to the Normandy club and helped them earn promotion to Ligue 1 in his first season. N'Golo Kante BORUSSIA Dortmund have opened talks with Bayern Mu- nich over the return of Mario Gotze, Bayern chairman Karl- Heinz Rummenigge has con- firmed. Gotze moved from Dortmund to Munich for 35million euros in 2013 but has not featured as much as he might have expect- ed and a return is now being discussed. "I wouldn't say a deal has been struck, but I can confirm that there have been talks with Borussia Dortmund as well as with his agent," Rummenigge told Sport1 television ahead of Bayern's friendly against Lipp- stadt on Saturday. "But it's not complete yet. The clubs must first reach an agree- ment over a transfer fee." Dortmund are likely to re- ceive a substantial discount on Germany's World Cup- winning goalscorer, with Rum- menigge accepting Gotze did not meet expectations. "He's been here for three years and it's not worked out," Rum- menigge said. "It's not surpris- ing that he has had a change of heart. "He's 24 years old and he needs to be playing regularly." Gotze scored 31 goals in 114 appearances in four seasons at Dortmund. While his scoring rate has improved in a domi- nant Bayern team, with 35 in 85 games, he has completed the full 90 minutes on only 27 oc- casions in three seasons. Mario Gotze: Could be set for a return to Dortmund