The obvious comparison would be Owen Hargreaves in terms of a player's career derailed by injuries. There was even rumors of Hargreaves coming to the MLS when it was not clear it was over for him.
That's daft - especially coming from you. For a moment I thought it was @suyunty being, well, @suyunty again. Rossi was a dedicated professional whose career was derailed by his body not being able to cope with the demands of top-level football. Adu was lazy and undecicated, and his career was derailed by him being unwilling to even try to adjust his game to the demands of pro - not top-level, just pro - football. They're about the same age but, despite his injuries, Rossi racked up 16 games in the EPL, 62 in Serie A and 170 in La Liga, scoring 91 goals in the process. Freddy's top league appearances are 11 games at Benfica and 9 at Monaco, and both of those leagues are of a lower standard than the Prem, Seria A or La Liga. If Rossi could get provably and sustainably fit again, there'd still be some pretty decent teams - in Europe - willing to take him on a play-for-pay deal. Could Freddy even get USL offers anymore?
I didn't mean that Rossi's career was comparable to Adu (far from it). But that Rossi seems to be holding out for a big-money offer from a top league, rather than just going to a smaller club that will give him playing time. Later on, of course, Adu would go to any club that would have him, but earlier, was more interested in the money than finding the right club situation. Rossi needs to re-set his level (it's not Man U or even Championship football), and allow himself one more shot in a less competitive league.
Really good interview, enjoyed it very much. Good to hear his point of view on his own career and the game in the US.
I think the root of the comparison with Adu is posting pics on Instagram and whatever other "social" media you kids use showing himself "practicing" as a way to convince someone (fans? scouts? himself?) that the dream is not over yet.
Poor Owen. After that he got a pity contract with City, played one league game the entire season, and when ManCity won the title he celebrated like a fool on the field until told that, because he had not played enough, he wasn't getting a medal.
And in his interview when signing he said he signed for City since he had always played in the CL and he end up not even being registered for their CL squad.
Back in Spain?: https://www.foxsports.com/soccer/st...ack-home-in-spain-for-another-comeback-111119 The 32-year-old Rossi is already an idol at Villarreal, where he scored a record 82 goals for the club known as the “Yellow Submarine” for its yellow uniform and low profile. But more than a decade after his career took off, he wants to show he is not done with soccer just yet. Rossi has been training with the Spanish club since last month, looking to regain his form and get another shot at extending his career. His goal is to prove he can still play at a high level and earn a new contract with Villarreal or another team. He has already earned a new fan in his short time back. American teenager Jack Imperato, who is also a striker and hoping to make it at Villarreal, couldn’t hide his anxiety when he realized he was going to meet Rossi, a player he always looked up to. “I was nervous. I didn’t think I was going to be nervous. I’m usually not,” the 17-year-old Imperato said. “It was crazy. I used to read articles about him when I was 9, and how he grew up in New Jersey, how he is Italian-American like me. It was pretty cool.”
Hopefully Rossi isn't a bad influence on this kid and convinces him not to play for the US. Instead, it's more likely he will tell the kid that playing for the US would be a much better decision (less competition for playing time, bigger commercial market, etc.)
In Utah (well, Arizona right now): Source: Giuseppi Rossi is with RSL at their camp in Phoenix. Sides are discussing a contract. Plan is for him to train with the team when they resume practice tomorrow.Rossi, who turns 33 this weekend, has been without a club since he left Genoa at end of the 2017-18 season.— Sam Stejskal (@samstejskal) January 29, 2020
Finally, I've been begging Rossi to give MLS a try for years. If he plays well and has a good attitude, he could open up coaching/GM opportunities in MLS down the road.
A very welcome homecoming for the patron saint and Godfather of #DualNationalPanic https://t.co/3TClT43PRc— Brian Sciaretta (@BrianSciaretta) February 24, 2020
How many Americans have even played in three of those leagues? Michael Bradley was the first one that jumped to mind, courtesy of his very brief loan at Aston Villa.
Not a ton. Very few have ever even played in La Liga or Serie A. Ligue 1 a few more but not a ton. Kasey Keller is the only one that springs to mind. Probably more then just Keller, Bradley and Rossi but not many more.
John O'Brien? Of Ajax fame? Sports medicine has advanced quite a bit in the last 20 years, no? In any case, career-threatening/ending ankle injuries are a little different to similar knee injuries. And responses to treatment differ from one player to another.