---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I went to Italy as a 21-year-old when I…"
description: "\"I went to Italy as a 21-year-old when I could easily have stayed in Argentina, playing for the biggest club in the land, River Plate, and having a nice..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/683/hernan-crespo-27462_club_i-went-to-italy-as-a-21-year-old-when-i_86595.jpg"
---

#  I went to Italy as a 21-year-old when I could easily have…

![“I went to Italy as a 21-year-old when I could easily have stayed in Argentina, playing for the biggest club in the land, River Plate, and having a nice, comfortable life.” quote by Hernan Crespo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/683/hernan-crespo-27462_club_i-went-to-italy-as-a-21-year-old-when-i_86595.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/683/hernan-crespo-27462_club_i-went-to-italy-as-a-21-year-old-when-i_86595.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/683/hernan-crespo-27462_club_i-went-to-italy-as-a-21-year-old-when-i_86595.jpg)

> “I went to Italy as a 21-year-old when I could easily have stayed in Argentina, playing for the biggest club in the land, River Plate, and having a nice, comfortable life.”

[Hernan Crespo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hernan-crespo/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Choosing personal growth over comfort, he left a stable career in Argentina to experience new horizons in Italy.

**In simple terms:** Prioritizing adventure over security.

Key Takeaway

Risk can lead to broader perspective.

Themes

self-discovery courage career choices cultural exposure personal growth

Mood

reflective determined

Type

personal anecdote life lesson

When to use this quote

- young athlete considering overseas move
- professional facing stagnation
- individual seeking cultural immersion

Key Concepts

risk-taking expatriate experience football career

Practical Applications

- career counseling
- motivational speaking

Questions to Reflect On

- What would you sacrifice for growth?
- How does comfort limit potential?

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[21 Year](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/21-year-341557/) [Argentina Playing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/argentina-playing-1088202/) [Club](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/club/) [Comfortable life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/comfortable-life/) [Football](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/football/) [Italy 21](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/italy-21-1088201/) [Land](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/land/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Nice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nice/) [River](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/river/) [Stayed Argentina](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stayed-argentina-564808/) [Went Italy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/went-italy-564811/)

## Related quotes

> [I could have stayed in Argentina but because I wanted to grow as a player, I went to Italy. I had the same idea…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erik-lamela/i-could-have-stayed-in-argentina-but-because-i-wanted-to-grow-as-a/)

[Erik Lamela](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erik-lamela/)

> [I think I went to Italy initially for the art, architecture, food and history, but I stayed there because of the people in Cortona.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frances-mayes/i-think-i-went-to-italy-initially-for-the-art-architecture-food-and/)

[Frances Mayes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frances-mayes/)

> [I never wanted for anything. We went to Ireland for holidays every year. I was 14 when we first went to Italy. My mum…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/imelda-staunton/i-never-wanted-for-anything-we-went-to-ireland-for-holidays-every/)

[Imelda Staunton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/imelda-staunton/)

> [“They went to Italy. Neither of them cared in the smallest degree for sculpture, architecture, painting, archaeology, poetry, history, politics, scenery, languages, or foreigners.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/they-went-to-italy-neither-of-them-cared-in-the-smallest-degree-for/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [When I last went to Italy, over two years ago, I had a lot more trouble understanding the language than I used to when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcel-carne/when-i-last-went-to-italy-over-two-years-ago-i-had-a-lot-more-trouble/)

[Marcel Carne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcel-carne/)

> [My parents went to Italy a lot, but I didn't go with them. I can't believe that!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-wersching/my-parents-went-to-italy-a-lot-but-i-didn-t-go-with-them-i-can-t/)

[Annie Wersching](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-wersching/)

> [L.A. kinda raised me a little bit as a 21-year-old kid from Oklahoma.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-kemp/l-a-kinda-raised-me-a-little-bit-as-a-21-year-old-kid-from-oklahoma/)

[Matt Kemp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-kemp/)

> [When I was 18, I was playing to 18 to 21-year-olds, and then, when I was 25, still playing to 18 to 25-year-olds. As…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/girl-talk/when-i-was-18-i-was-playing-to-18-to-21-year-olds-and-then-when-i-was/)

[Girl Talk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/girl-talk/)

> [When I was a 21-year-old intern at CBS, I was told I had crossed eyes and shouldn't try to be on air. That's when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-cohen/when-i-was-a-21-year-old-intern-at-cbs-i-was-told-i-had-crossed-eyes/)

[Andy Cohen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-cohen/)

> [The media character-assassinated me and perceived me as this monster. When you look at my record ... I jumped a taxi as a 21-year-old,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/willie-mason/the-media-character-assassinated-me-and-perceived-me-as-this-monster/)

[Willie Mason](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/willie-mason/)

> [If I want a hamburger, I'm going to have one. No 21-year-old should be worrying about whether she fits a sample size.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/coco-rocha/if-i-want-a-hamburger-i-m-going-to-have-one-no-21-year-old-should-be/)

[Coco Rocha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/coco-rocha/)

> [Wrestlemania is big, and I'm glad that I got to go on a real interesting 21-year ride on the road to and out of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-ross/wrestlemania-is-big-and-i-m-glad-that-i-got-to-go-on-a-real/)

[Jim Ross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-ross/)

> [I just really want to continue on the same intensity of work ethic, I don't want to slow now. I'm 21-year's old and I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-derulo/i-just-really-want-to-continue-on-the-same-intensity-of-work-ethic-i/)

[Jason Derulo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-derulo/)

> [As cricketers we're judged on the average we have from being a 21-year-old who's just come into international cricket to the day you retire.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alastair-cook/as-cricketers-we-re-judged-on-the-average-we-have-from-being-a-21/)

[Alastair Cook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alastair-cook/)

> [I don't know any 21-year-old who's not having an existential crisis.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ella-purnell/i-don-t-know-any-21-year-old-who-s-not-having-an-existential-crisis/)

[Ella Purnell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ella-purnell/)

## More by Hernan Crespo

> [I played in Premier League with Chelsea and in Italy with lot of teams.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hernan-crespo/i-played-in-premier-league-with-chelsea-and-in-italy-with-lot-of-teams/)

[Hernan Crespo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hernan-crespo/)

> [When I go onto the field, I will always give 100% for my team, irrespective of who we are playing against.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hernan-crespo/when-i-go-onto-the-field-i-will-always-give-100-for-my-team/)

[Hernan Crespo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hernan-crespo/)

> [For me to be in a Champions League final playing for Milan was already the best experience you can imagine.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hernan-crespo/for-me-to-be-in-a-champions-league-final-playing-for-milan-was/)

[Hernan Crespo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hernan-crespo/)

> [I like to push myself to the limit of my abilities.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hernan-crespo/i-like-to-push-myself-to-the-limit-of-my-abilities/)

[Hernan Crespo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hernan-crespo/)

> [I made my debut in football at the age of 18, I met my wife at 27 and I never showed up with a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hernan-crespo/i-made-my-debut-in-football-at-the-age-of-18-i-met-my-wife-at-27-and/)

[Hernan Crespo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hernan-crespo/)

> [People say that Chelsea are undergoing a revolution. Well, that suits me fine, because I am a true revolutionary.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hernan-crespo/people-say-that-chelsea-are-undergoing-a-revolution-well-that-suits/)

[Hernan Crespo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hernan-crespo/)

> [I spent too little time at Chelsea. I want to have another life so I could spend more time there.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hernan-crespo/i-spent-too-little-time-at-chelsea-i-want-to-have-another-life-so-i/)

[Hernan Crespo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hernan-crespo/)

> [For those who want to be a manager, the Premier League is the best place to work; at the very top.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hernan-crespo/for-those-who-want-to-be-a-manager-the-premier-league-is-the-best/)

[Hernan Crespo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hernan-crespo/)

> [I never played in Spain. To play for Real Madrid or Barcelona would be great.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hernan-crespo/i-never-played-in-spain-to-play-for-real-madrid-or-barcelona-would-be/)

[Hernan Crespo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hernan-crespo/)

> [I grew without having a thing about the Ballon d'Or. When I was young, Ballon d'Or was also given to the European players. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hernan-crespo/i-grew-without-having-a-thing-about-the-ballon-d-or-when-i-was-young/)

[Hernan Crespo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hernan-crespo/)

> [I grew up watching the great Milan teams with the Dutch players.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hernan-crespo/i-grew-up-watching-the-great-milan-teams-with-the-dutch-players/)

[Hernan Crespo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hernan-crespo/)

> [Two separate times, we lost a baby. It was hard to go through that with my wife. Life has to go on but it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hernan-crespo/two-separate-times-we-lost-a-baby-it-was-hard-to-go-through-that-with/)

[Hernan Crespo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hernan-crespo/)

> [I cried after the game when we won the league - it was hugely special to me. The first season we came second and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hernan-crespo/i-cried-after-the-game-when-we-won-the-league-it-was-hugely-special/)

[Hernan Crespo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hernan-crespo/)

> [To watch a game from the TV, it's very different from the bench.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hernan-crespo/to-watch-a-game-from-the-tv-it-s-very-different-from-the-bench/)

[Hernan Crespo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hernan-crespo/)

> [I like coaching a lot and I've always had this desire in me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hernan-crespo/i-like-coaching-a-lot-and-i-ve-always-had-this-desire-in-me/)

[Hernan Crespo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hernan-crespo/)

[Explore all 20 Hernan Crespo quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hernan-crespo/)

## More Club quotes

> [United was my first European club. We won two titles and almost won the Champions League.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/javier-hernandez/united-was-my-first-european-club-we-won-two-titles-and-almost-won/)

[Javier Hernandez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/javier-hernandez/)

> [People think that the Club World Cup is an easy competition, but it's not.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keylor-navas/people-think-that-the-club-world-cup-is-an-easy-competition-but-it-s/)

[Keylor Navas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keylor-navas/)

> [I really don't think you need a letter on your jersey to be a leader on a hockey club.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carey-price/i-really-don-t-think-you-need-a-letter-on-your-jersey-to-be-a-leader/)

[Carey Price](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carey-price/)

> [At times you are going to miss people. When that happens, others have to come to the front and show the calibre that brought…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-phelan/at-times-you-are-going-to-miss-people-when-that-happens-others-have/)

[Mike Phelan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-phelan/)

> [When I go to my health club, and it's in the basement, you have to take the elevator down. And this drives me crazy.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-gladwell/when-i-go-to-my-health-club-and-it-s-in-the-basement-you-have-to-take/)

[Malcolm Gladwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-gladwell/)

> [Top of my wishlist is to play for a club that wants me to be their goalkeeper.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-hart/top-of-my-wishlist-is-to-play-for-a-club-that-wants-me-to-be-their/)

[Joe Hart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-hart/)

> [I've enjoyed my time at every club I have worked at, I've been lucky, but I won't jump in and finish up working with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-redknapp/i-ve-enjoyed-my-time-at-every-club-i-have-worked-at-i-ve-been-lucky/)

[Harry Redknapp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-redknapp/)

> [A lot of my friends send me Snapchats of when they're in the club, and they're like, 'It's your song!'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zara-larsson/a-lot-of-my-friends-send-me-snapchats-of-when-they-re-in-the-club-and/)

[Zara Larsson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zara-larsson/)

> [Over the past decade, I've been lucky to have witnessed and played a part in Manchester City's rise as a club and a brand.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vincent-kompany/over-the-past-decade-i-ve-been-lucky-to-have-witnessed-and-played-a/)

[Vincent Kompany](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vincent-kompany/)

> [It's important to know how much I'll play and how much the club trusts me, that's why I picked Juventus because they told me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthijs-de-ligt/it-s-important-to-know-how-much-i-ll-play-and-how-much-the-club/)

[Matthijs de Ligt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthijs-de-ligt/)

> [While all of you talk about me I just sit back and think damn I got myself a Fan Club](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/while-all-of-you-talk-about-me-i-just-sit-back-and-think-damn-i-got/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [As a club, we have an educational purpose: to give back to those people who love Arsenal so that they learn moral values from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arsene-wenger/as-a-club-we-have-an-educational-purpose-to-give-back-to-those-people/)

[Arsene Wenger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arsene-wenger/)

> [I've never belonged to any group that didn't have at least one member who wasn't a total dick.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rock-cowles/i-ve-never-belonged-to-any-group-that-didn-t-have-at-least-one-member/)

[Rock Cowles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rock-cowles/)

> [As a player, if a club is desperate to sign you, then you can benefit from that. Desperate clubs are prepared to pay more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diego-forlan/as-a-player-if-a-club-is-desperate-to-sign-you-then-you-can-benefit/)

[Diego Forlan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diego-forlan/)

> [Chelsea is in my heart and I was so proud to achieve so much for the club.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gianfranco-zola/chelsea-is-in-my-heart-and-i-was-so-proud-to-achieve-so-much-for-the/)

[Gianfranco Zola](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gianfranco-zola/)

[Browse all 2,537 Club quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/club/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "I went to Italy as a 21-year-old when I could easily have stayed in Argentina, playing for the biggest club in the land, River Plate, and having a nice, comfortable life.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Hernan Crespo"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hernan-crespo/i-went-to-italy-as-a-21-year-old-when-i-could-easily-have-stayed-in/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Club"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hernan-crespo/i-went-to-italy-as-a-21-year-old-when-i-could-easily-have-stayed-in/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/683/hernan-crespo-27462_club_i-went-to-italy-as-a-21-year-old-when-i_86595.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/683/hernan-crespo-27462_club_i-went-to-italy-as-a-21-year-old-when-i_86595.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/683/hernan-crespo-27462_club_i-went-to-italy-as-a-21-year-old-when-i_86595.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“I went to Italy as a 21-year-old when I could easily have stayed in Argentina, playing for the biggest club…” — Hernan Crespo",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "Hernan Crespo",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hernan-crespo/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "I went to Italy as a...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hernan-crespo/i-went-to-italy-as-a-21-year-old-when-i-could-easily-have-stayed-in/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hernan-crespo/i-went-to-italy-as-a-21-year-old-when-i-could-easily-have-stayed-in/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
