New Jersey native Giuseppe Rossi has completed a big-ticket transfer from la Liga club Villarreal to Serie A side Fiorentina. And the high-scoring forward told the Post that his knee injury is healing well, and he’s looking forward to playing for the only squad that made a genuine effort to sign him.
“(I’m) happy for the move,’’ Rossi told the Post. “(Fiorentina was) the only team to show true interest in me.’’
Rossi is a hot-button topic for many U.S. National Team fans. He’s arguably the best player this country has ever produced, and certainly in a way the most bitter disappointment. Born in Teaneck and raised in Clifton, he moved to Parma, Italy at the age of 12, and spurned then-U.S. coach Bruce Arena’s 2006 call-up to a pre-World Cup camp in hopes of playing for Italy.
He debuted for the Azzurri in 2008, even wearing the captain’s armband two years later. And after starring for Villarreal – scoring 32 goals in 2010-11 – he tore his right ACL against Real Madrid on Oct. 26, 2011. Then he re-injured it on April 13, 2012 and hasn’t played since – although he insists his knee is improving.
“(My) knee is doing very well,’’ said Rossi. “But (there is) no need to rush, because I want to be 110 fit (and have) no more setbacks.’’
Fiorentina had enough faith to make a $12.45 move for him, holding a press conference last week and announcing he’d signed a four-year deal. He’s anxious to start living up to it, but wants to be patient in his recovery after already suffering that spring setback.