Inter Milan have signed a loan deal to bring Chelsea's Argentina striker Hernan Crespo back to the San Siro, the Italian club said on Monday.

Crespo, who spent the 2002-03 season at Inter before joining Chelsea for 16.8 million pounds ($32 million), has signed a two-year contract, the Serie A club said on its official web site.

No money changed hands in the deal but the English champions have retained an option to get Crespo back after one season.

Though one of the game's top strikers, Crespo failed to settle in London and was loaned out by Chelsea in 2004-05 to Inter's city rivals AC Milan -- helping them reach a Champions League final against Liverpool in which he scored twice.

The 31-year-old had a better time last term with the Blues, helping them secure a second consecutive Premier League title.

But he would have faced tougher competition for a starting place this season at Stamford Bridge after Chelsea signed striker Andriy Shevchenko from AC Milan.