Giuseppe Rossi has put the disappointment of being excluded from Italy’s 2014 World Cup squad behind him and has commented on the persistent difficulties young players encounter in securing playing time in Serie A. He shared, “It happened to me too; I had to go abroad.”
The former striker for Manchester United, Villarreal, and Fiorentina shared his thoughts in an in-depth interview with Corriere dello Sport.
Rossi, who was born and raised in New Jersey and now resides there in retirement, lives close to the MetLife Stadium, the designated venue for the 2026 World Cup final. “There’s a lot of enthusiasm; it’s all anyone’s talking about,” Rossi stated. “I live in New Jersey, 10 minutes from the stadium where the final will be played. I would have liked to see Italy there.”
However, following their playoff final defeat against Bosnia and Herzegovina in late March, Italy will not participate in the upcoming World Cup. “It’s a shame. Now we need somebody who loves football,” Rossi remarked.
The 30-cap Italian international believes that the Azzurri would have qualified and that the current widespread scrutiny of the national team’s failures would have been avoided had Alessandro Bastoni not been sent off in the first half against Bosnia. “Without the red card, we would have won against Bosnia. We would have made it to the World Cup, and there would have been no discussion.”
Rossi also revealed that he had the opportunity to represent the USA two years prior to his debut for Italy. “In 2006, but I’m happy that I chose Italy. It was my dream and I promised it to my father.”
Although Rossi scored seven goals in 30 appearances for the Italian national team, a prolonged injury led to his omission from the final roster for the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, despite being named in the preliminary 30-man squad. “Yes, I know I could have done well because I was recovering and I was doing well mentally. But so many years have passed now; I don’t think about it anymore,” Rossi insisted.
When questioned about whether Italy faces a problem in developing young attacking talent, given the apparent scarcity of options for the national team at center-forward and particularly on the wings, Rossi feels it’s a temporary issue. However, he does acknowledge that young Italian talents are not afforded sufficient opportunities in Serie A. “No, it’s gone like that this year, but the real problem is the growth of the Italian footballer. There is no patience; you need to find a coach with their heart in the right place.”
“It happened to me as well: The President of Parma proposed me to all the big names, from Milan to Juve and Inter, but nobody wanted to take a punt on me, so I had to go abroad.”
The 39-year-old also admitted that he received interest from clubs like Barcelona, Bayern Munich, and Napoli at the peak of his career. “It’s true. It was 2012, and I already had the contracts done. Napoli were there as well. I had a good conversation with De Laurentiis, but that unfortunately didn’t go ahead.”
Instead, Rossi joined Fiorentina in 2013. “An unforgettable period,” he recalled. “That Fiorentina 4-2 Juventus game remains one of the greatest feelings in my career.”
Regarding potential future legends at Fiorentina, Rossi suggested, “Maybe Gudmundsson. If he becomes a little meaner and takes on a few more responsibilities, he could become an idol in Florence.”
Rossi also spoke about his former teammate Daniele De Rossi, currently managing Genoa. “He’s someone who gives you enormous energy; he makes you want to play for him. He will go a long way as a coach.”
Finally, discussing his former coach Claudio Ranieri and the ongoing challenges he faces at Roma, Rossi stated, “He immediately gave me confidence at 19. It was only for six months, but it was great. He deserves respect from the world of football.”
“They have two geniuses with Gasperini; they will find a common ground. But in the end, tell me a coach and sporting director who really get along.”