Hernan Crespo is backing Real Madrid's two Argentine youngsters for big things.

The Inter Milan striker has been linked with a January move to Real, but refused to take questions yesterday over the prospect.

Instead, on Gonzalo Higuain, Crespo told AS: "I saw him at River Plate and I became convinced that he could be big. He's a lovely striker."

And on Fernando Gago, Crespo added: "He had to endure the pressure of being compared with Fernando Redondo, which happens to all Argentines emerging in that position."