Giuseppe Rossi reveals why he ‘cried every night’ in the Parma academy, was ‘surprised’ by Sir Alex Ferguson at Manchester United, and was behind an anecdote in Roy Kean’s autobiography.

The striker had been one of the great hopes for Italian football and had flashes of brilliance, but too often his career was ruined by a succession of injury problems.

Born in New Jersey to Italian-American parents, he came to the Parma youth academy at the age of 12 and was then snapped up by Manchester United.

Rossi unprepared for life at Parma academy

FLORENCE – MARCH 22: Giuseppe Rossi during Pepito Day at Stadio Artemio Franchi on March 22, 2025 in Florence. Pepito Day is special event dedicated to Giuseppe Rossi, affectionately nicknamed “Pepito”. This day will mark the farewell to football of the Italian-American striker, famous for his career at clubs such as Fiorentina, Villarreal and Manchester United, as well as for his appearances for the Italian national team. (Photo by Diego Puletto/Getty Images)

“I didn’t want to go, but I also didn’t want to let my father down, so he and I moved to Salsamaggiore and my mother and sister Tina remained in Clifton, New Jersey,” Rossi told La Gazzetta dello Sport.

“It was a struggle, I was shy, introverted, struggled to make friends, and my teachers thought I was only there for football, so didn’t help me at all. I’d cry every night until my mother came to visit. Being on the pitch was the only refuge.”

When he joined Manchester United at the age of 17, Rossi got to work with the legendary coach Sir Alex Ferguson.

“He was a surprise, because he was an austere person, but also affectionate and attentive, a paternal figure who knew how to treat young players like gems. He would protect and motivate them to help them grow as both people and players, with precise values and rules.

“In training, it was like another sport to what I was accustomed to, this brutal pace and intensity. There were no friends in training, lots of shoves, kicks, aggression. I quickly realised what I had to do to earn respect in that squad. I was physically behind the rest, so I had to make do with technique and intelligence.”

epa06403992 Genoa’s forward Giuseppe Rossi greets supporters before the Italian Serie A soccer match Genoa Cfc vs Benevento Calcio at Luigi Ferraris Stadium in Genoa, Italy, 23 December 2017. EPA-EFE/SIMONE ARVEDA

Rossi reveals he was behind an anecdote in the Roy Keane autobiography, even though at the time he had not been named.

“Keane wrote that one time in training he had told off a young Italian player for not passing him the ball and this young lad replied with a strong glare, a challenge. If that kid had said something, he would’ve got a slap, but he was silent and his gaze spoke volumes. So he walked over to shake his hand.

“Well, that kid was me. And I don’t remember it at all! Evidently I was in a trance and my determination to create a career was absolute.”

Rossi recently celebrated his career with Pepito Day at Fiorentina with many of his former teammates.