Post by londonleedsfan on Jul 21, 2006 11:43:36 GMT -1
This has just been posted on ITV's website
Could be good or bad news for us really! Ferguson seems keen to loan him but he wants to play for United?!
I have read though that Bryan Robson wants him to go to WBA and Fergie will probably do him a favour as he knows him!
Rossi pleads for United stay
Rising star Giuseppe Rossi has pleaded with Sir Alex Ferguson for the chance to help fill the gap left by departing striker Ruud van Nistelrooy.
With Van Nistelrooy due to exit Manchester United any day, Ferguson is pondering his attacking options.
The Red Devils boss has already revealed his intention to restore Alan Smith to forward duties when he returns from his double leg break next month.
However, he remains undecided about Rossi and is still pondering whether to loan the 19-year-old out for six months to further his footballing education.
United know there will be no shortage of interested parties should Rossi become available as the American-born Italian has made himself one of the hottest young properties around with his phenomenal goalscoring exploits at reserve team level.
Those feats have been rewarded with an improved contract which will keep Rossi at Old Trafford until 2010.
But, while the teenager will not complain if Ferguson opts to let him leave for a short spell, he hopes he can remain where he is.
He said: "I would prefer to stay and play.
"If you have to choose between all the teams in the Premiership, the first one that pops into your head is Manchester United.
"I do need to get some more experience in the Premiership. If that means I have to go out on loan, then I will.
"But if there is the chance to stay here and play, that would be the ultimate."
One thing Ferguson and Rossi are in total agreement on is the futility of expecting the youngster to spend another season banging in goals at reserve level.
Two outstanding campaigns for United's second string - during which time they won an incredible eight trophies - has left no room for debate over Rossi's potential.
But as Ferguson and Rossi are only too aware, reserve football no longer offers the challenges of old.
"I have had two years in the reserves and that is enough," he said.
"I don't think another season at that level would be the best thing for me at all."
Amid the turmoil which followed Ferguson's decision, it has largely been forgotten Rossi was the man whose selection for the final Barclays Premiership game of last season threw Van Nistelrooy into such a fury.
Ironically, the relationship between the pair had been close.
Van Nistelrooy had to be forcibly prevented from entering the pitch to join the celebrations at Sunderland last October when Rossi marked his Premiership debut with a goal.
Now, Rossi is using United's current South Africa tour to press his claims to be part of the plan to replace his former mentor.
He continued: "I am not really familiar with what is happening with Ruud.
"I just want to concentrate on my own game and try to find a space in the first team squad.
"It was great to be picked against Charlton because it was an important game we had to win to get into the Champions League.
"Unfortunately, I didn't score but I am sure that will come."
Born in New Jersey, Rossi remained in the United States until he was 12, when his parents returned to their native Italy and he was snapped up by the Parma academy from where he joined United in 2004.
His background has made him eligible for both the US and Italian national sides, but on that issue too, Rossi is totally focused.
Not even the prospect of a place in the US squad for this summer's World Cup could persuade him to abandon his boyhood dream to play for Italy.
He admitted: "I did have contact with the US squad.
"They asked me to play and I knew there was an opportunity to go to the World Cup.
"But I also knew if I took that chance, I would never be able to play for Italy, which has been my dream virtually since the day I was born.
"I had to tell the USA the truth. I know it will be far harder trying to get in the Italian team than the United States but I have absolutely no regrets about the option I have taken."
Could be good or bad news for us really! Ferguson seems keen to loan him but he wants to play for United?!
I have read though that Bryan Robson wants him to go to WBA and Fergie will probably do him a favour as he knows him!
Rossi pleads for United stay
Rising star Giuseppe Rossi has pleaded with Sir Alex Ferguson for the chance to help fill the gap left by departing striker Ruud van Nistelrooy.
With Van Nistelrooy due to exit Manchester United any day, Ferguson is pondering his attacking options.
The Red Devils boss has already revealed his intention to restore Alan Smith to forward duties when he returns from his double leg break next month.
However, he remains undecided about Rossi and is still pondering whether to loan the 19-year-old out for six months to further his footballing education.
United know there will be no shortage of interested parties should Rossi become available as the American-born Italian has made himself one of the hottest young properties around with his phenomenal goalscoring exploits at reserve team level.
Those feats have been rewarded with an improved contract which will keep Rossi at Old Trafford until 2010.
But, while the teenager will not complain if Ferguson opts to let him leave for a short spell, he hopes he can remain where he is.
He said: "I would prefer to stay and play.
"If you have to choose between all the teams in the Premiership, the first one that pops into your head is Manchester United.
"I do need to get some more experience in the Premiership. If that means I have to go out on loan, then I will.
"But if there is the chance to stay here and play, that would be the ultimate."
One thing Ferguson and Rossi are in total agreement on is the futility of expecting the youngster to spend another season banging in goals at reserve level.
Two outstanding campaigns for United's second string - during which time they won an incredible eight trophies - has left no room for debate over Rossi's potential.
But as Ferguson and Rossi are only too aware, reserve football no longer offers the challenges of old.
"I have had two years in the reserves and that is enough," he said.
"I don't think another season at that level would be the best thing for me at all."
Amid the turmoil which followed Ferguson's decision, it has largely been forgotten Rossi was the man whose selection for the final Barclays Premiership game of last season threw Van Nistelrooy into such a fury.
Ironically, the relationship between the pair had been close.
Van Nistelrooy had to be forcibly prevented from entering the pitch to join the celebrations at Sunderland last October when Rossi marked his Premiership debut with a goal.
Now, Rossi is using United's current South Africa tour to press his claims to be part of the plan to replace his former mentor.
He continued: "I am not really familiar with what is happening with Ruud.
"I just want to concentrate on my own game and try to find a space in the first team squad.
"It was great to be picked against Charlton because it was an important game we had to win to get into the Champions League.
"Unfortunately, I didn't score but I am sure that will come."
Born in New Jersey, Rossi remained in the United States until he was 12, when his parents returned to their native Italy and he was snapped up by the Parma academy from where he joined United in 2004.
His background has made him eligible for both the US and Italian national sides, but on that issue too, Rossi is totally focused.
Not even the prospect of a place in the US squad for this summer's World Cup could persuade him to abandon his boyhood dream to play for Italy.
He admitted: "I did have contact with the US squad.
"They asked me to play and I knew there was an opportunity to go to the World Cup.
"But I also knew if I took that chance, I would never be able to play for Italy, which has been my dream virtually since the day I was born.
"I had to tell the USA the truth. I know it will be far harder trying to get in the Italian team than the United States but I have absolutely no regrets about the option I have taken."