'El Chino' Recoba in gold and goals haul on the old continent

PARIS, May 18 (AFP)

Uruguayan striker Alvaro Recoba's goals and fiercely tenacious attitude have seen him survive several setbacks to become one of the world's most highly rated strikers.

He made an instant impact on his Inter Milan debut five seasons ago when as a virtual unknown he handed three points to Inter with two goals from two sensational strikes against Brescia.
At 26 he can now rub shoulders with the likes of Brazil's Ronaldo and Italy's Christian Vieri on equal terms.
In fact recent reports suggest Ronaldo's agents are unhappy with his salary while Recoba is believed to be the highest paid player in the Italian football league, reputedly earning eight million euros a season.

Inter signed Recoba in full knowledge of his prolific strike rate at Nacional de Montivideo, where he banged in 57 goals in 51 games.
And in his first season at Inter he amassed a remarkable 15-goal haul in just 19 matches, despite coming on as a substitute in many of the games, earning himself the reputation as a saviour.
But it has not all been plain sailing for this deeply religious man known as 'El Chino' because of his oriental looks.
In 1999 Recoba was loaned out to Inter's league rivals Venezia after they signed Christian Vieri for a world record 30 million pounds.
Recoba responded with eleven goals in 19 games for Venezia, almost certainly saving them from relegation, a feat that saw him rushed back to Milan to sign his lucrative contract.

Recoba then hit hard times in November 2000 when he was caught up in the false passports scandal that swept through the European game after the Italian heritage stated on his passport was called into question.
A trial saw him banned for the entire 2001-02 season and the striker, desperate to continue playing, was on the verge of a move to Spain before a fresh court decision reduced the ban to a less severe four months.

Two goals from Recoba in a 3-1 win over AS Roma sent Inter Milan three points clear in Italy in late March but the title once more eluded them.
So Recoba can only boast a UEFA Cup, won in 1998, as the sole prize during his time in Europe.

He can opperate as an out and out striker or in attacking midfield. He has a blistering free-kick, exquisite skill and, because of his stocky frame, is desperatly hard to knock off the ball.

It's no surprise then that Uruguayan fans see him as the natural succesor to former goal king Daniel Fonseca or the gifted left-footer Enzo Francescoli.

He made his international debut at 19, just two years after turning professional. On his third appearance, against China on July 17, 1996 he notched the first of his his eight goals from 42 games for his country.

Recoba is a superstitious player and aside from wearing a crucifix around his neck and bracelet bought in the French pilgrim centre Lourdes, the striker is never without his representations of four saints to whom he prays before each game.