By Kevin Moseley and Paul McCarthy
Sportlive
Gabriel Batistuta, who turns out for Argentina against England on Wednesday night, wants to play for Manchester United next season after being tracked by manager Sir Alex Ferguson for years.
On the eve of the Wembley confrontation, when he goes head-to-head with Alan Shearer, 31-year-old Batistuta spelled out a clear "come and get me" message to Old Trafford.
"I want to play at United because they are the world's best club," said Argentina's most charismatic player and prolific goalscorer, who is taking English lessons.
"United are a cool club and I'm aware that they have been interested in me - and have always been looking at me. It would be a great temptation to play for them, given the opportunity."
Batistuta has been with Fiorentina for seven seasons. He has finished top goalscorer in Serie A three times and has never been out of the top three.
"At the moment, I don't think I would upset anyone in Florence if I moved," he said. "I have served them well over the years. I'm 31 and the moment is right for a move. Time is not on my side and I want to make the right decision.
"Let's wait and see what happens. I'm learning English and it would be nice to play in the Premiership and experience English life."
Batistuta would probably command an £8million transfer fee and £40,000-a-week wages - well within United's resources.
The long-haired striker has long been the scourge of England and English clubs. His brilliant goal at Wembley ended Arsenal's interest in the Champions League this season and he also scored in Fiorentina's victory over United in the same competition.
Batistuta, who has scored 50 goals in 69 appearances for Argentina, found the net against England during their World Cup defeat in France in 1998. And he is so popular in Florence that fans have honoured Batistuta by erecting a statue of him.
Argentine club Boca Juniors are keen to sign him, but Batistuta wants to win major honours before ending his career and United, he feels, offer him that chance. Such is his appeal that his contribution on the field and commercial appeal off it may be considered a sound investment.
Chelsea are also interested in the striker who has scored 14 goals for Fiorentina this season. But he obviously prefers United.
The signing of Batistuta would allow Ferguson to lay to rest the ghost of Shearer, who rejected his overtures twice, in favour of Blackburn and then Newcastle. Even now, Fergie cannot believe that this generation's finest domestic goalscorer could turn his back on Old Trafford. But he would regard the capture of Batistuta as an even greater coup than if he had signed Shearer.
While Ferguson was keeping his thoughts on the striker he covets to himself, Shearer was painting a vivid picture of why Batistuta would be a huge success in England.
"You'd be a mug not to admire him because of what he's achieved and what he can go on to achieve," said the England captain. "I don't think he'd have a problem in the English game. He's powerful, quick and he scores goals in one of the toughest leagues in the world on a regular basis. He's done it on the world stage so he's a big threat."
Shearer added: "He's a huge name and has scored goals for a long time. That means he has the respect he deserves, not only of his team-mates, but of us as well as the rest of the world. That's the sign of a great player.
"It was difficult to assess him in the World Cup, because the night before he faced us I believe his missus had just had a baby and he didn't last the full game. He looked a bit tired, but he scored their penalty and over 90 minutes he will be a threat because you cannot take anything away from a proven goalscorer."
Shearer's tribute was not of grudging admiration but of a rival who recognises an equal.
England manager Kevin Keegan echoed similar sentiments, although they were tainted with trepidation at the damage Batistuta might inflict on his England side at Wembley tonight.
"He's a wonderful player," said Keegan. "There are no airs and graces about him and he has that tremendous ability not possessed by every big-name footballer to realise that if you put hard work with ability, it takes you on to another level.
"Clips stick in my memory where he is chasing lost causes here and there. The game against Arsenal springs to mind. Everyone raved about his goal, but he also foraged alone and tried to get hold of the ball, even when the service wasn't good. His goal against Colombia is another. He headed a ball off his own line and then, 15 seconds later, he was at the other end pushing it past the keeper to score."
"There's a similarity with Shearer in that they're both happy to forage alone if that's what the manager wants. They are both happy to roll their sleeves up, chase back, get tackles in, try to win the ball sometimes. Yet when they get to that stage in their careers, you could almost forgive them for not wanting to chase lost causes."
