Zola: United let 'Italian Messi' go

• omgukilledkenny

  14 Jul 08, 01:03

  

  Gianfranco Zola believes Manchester United made a big mistake the day they allowed Giuseppe Rossi to join Villarreal.

  United currently find themselves in a tug-o-war to keep one world class star in Cristiano Ronaldo, but Zola insists they could already have had another, had Rossi have stayed.

  The 21-year-old Italian is preparing to go to the Olympics with Italy after scoring 11 goals in 27 league appearances for Villarreal last season.

  Rossi’s raw talent was there for all to see during his short spell in United’s first team, and he even showed it during a loan spell at Parma that yielded nine goals in 19 Serie A appearances.

  Despite being the stand-out player in United’s youth setup, Sir Alex Ferguson allowed the Italian to join Villarreal for around £7 million last summer.

  It is believed United do have a buy-back clause in Rossi’s contract, but Zola believes that could prove costly for The Red Devils.

  Zola has worked with Rossi while coaching the Italy Under-21s, and he believes he will one day become the best player in Italian football.

  “He has class, knows where the goal is and makes a difference. Plus he's still young,” Zola told La Gazzetta Sportiva.

  "Giuseppe Rossi is a phenomenon and our (Lionel) Messi.”

  

• Gackt247

  14 Jul 08, 01:18

  I also sad tt he had to go. Well got the clause mah. Even if ex.. nvm la.. take it that we paid Villareal school fees to sharpen his skill.

   

  We'll see how things play out.

• Keii

  14 Jul 08, 01:26

  I hope Fergie will see it, and actually get him to settle our striker issues. If any. :x

• youyayu

  14 Jul 08, 01:35

  glazer must be banging SAF

• zocoss

  14 Jul 08, 02:49

  I think Rossi is way, way over rated lah... That time when he was still at United, he was just an average striker... Going away and playing first team football regularly will do him some good... Anyway, I still think he is overrated, Zola talking up his player only lah...

• Keii

  14 Jul 08, 02:56

  Yeah. Still too much talk as of yet. Until we see action.

• ~b1RD_m4N~

  15 Jul 08, 22:20

  owh i was gonna say where did rossi go. he is a talent!

• iceFatboy

  16 Jul 08, 11:09

  Originally posted by zocoss:

  I think Rossi is way, way over rated lah... That time when he was still at United, he was just an average striker... Going away and playing first team football regularly will do him some good... Anyway, I still think he is overrated, Zola talking up his player only lah...

  agreed, plus the games in italian league is difficult than EPL.

  look @ forlan, he was lousy in EPL, but did well in La Liga..