Star Argentine striker Hernan Crespo believes pure talent is not enough to succeed in the cut-throat world that is professional football.

The out of favour Inter Milan player has warned young gun Mario Balotelli that he won't be able to get by on his skills and ability.

"I would say that talent isn't enough on its own," Crespo told Sky Sport Italia.

"In my career I have seen lots of players who were better than me, but if their heads weren't right nothing came of them." Crespo is on the outer at the Beneamata and may leave the club next year but has said that he will persist, just as he always has.

"I will continue to work with the same intensity," Crespo added.

"I will persevere because I don't know any other way to do things.

"I have found myself cut out of the side and I need to fight to regain a place.

"In the summer when the Coach changed, I refused lots of offers but things got worse for me here and I was then left out of the Champions League."