OFFICIAL: Inter Sign Crespo, Trade Ronaldo To Real

Inter Milan have confirmed the capture of former cappocanioneri Hernan Crespo from Lazio in an official statement.

They have further confirmed what we earlier stipulated: that Ronaldo has been traded to Real Madrid.

Hernan Jorge Crespo becomes the second huge departure from the Stadio Olympico as Inter's arch-rivals Milan signed Alessandro Nesta earlier today.

Hernan Crespo will replace Ronaldo and will don the No. 9 jersey for the Nereoazzurri. "Crespo has signed a four year contract with the club and will be presented officially on Sep 1st," read the official statement.

Inter have paid Lazio 26 million Euros plus former Chievo striker Bernardo Corradi in exchange.

On the other end of the deal, Real Madrid have broken the bank for the third year running by signing World Champion and WC 2002 Golden Boot winner, Luiz Nazario de Lima Ronaldo.

Il Fenomeno joins Luis Figo and Zinedine Zidane in a chain of transfers that can only be described as stupendous (and outrageous). Ronaldo's fee is a whopping 45 million Euros, with 35 million payable over 5 years and 10 million due in January in the form of a player exchange.

This puts and end to some huge speculation in the Italian and Spanish transfer markets over the past months, but probably makes evident yet another transfer: that of Fernando Morientes to FC Barcelona.