I picked up a copy of "It's called futbol" yesterday, and they had an interesting interview with De Rosario. He mentioned his time with Barcelona and AC Milan during the interview... Barcelona - He said they were interested in him, but they were also looking at another player from Brazil. - Barcelona couldn't offer any thing to DeRo because of the guy from Brazil. - DeRo told Robson 'Who is this guy? Let me prove myself. Give me a chance.' - A few days later he watched Ronaldo score three goals against Valencia. - DeRo was with the reserve team, and they would scrimmage against the first team. AC Milan - 15 when he went to AC Milan - Said he was playing with their second team, when the first team had Weah, Baggio, Simeone, Edgar Davids, Maldini, Desailly, - Milan wanted him for a five year youth contract. DeRo was young and wasn't sure if he was ready.. - Tells a story during once practice he got the ball and dummied it through Maldini's leg.... Baresi then came and knocked him over.... a little later... Maldini gave him a forearm in the back in the head - Davids said "Hey, You're the Canadian guy... what would they (Milan) want with a Canadian?" he was being serious.... The interview appears in It's called futbol (ontario youth soccer magazine) and can be purchased for $2.95. The interview is a few pages long, and it is an interesting read...
I agree with Davids I don't mind De Rosario, but seriously, he'd never have a chance making an impact with those two clubs.
I am a fairly big critic of DeRo because at high playing levels (ie. national team vs. MLS level) he is spectacular but largely ineffective because he can't finish, shoot, pass or receive a pass properly. Yet he has the skills to be a top player in a big 4 league and probably even on a big team in a big 4 league. This is what makes him so frustrating, watching him run circles around Spanish national team defenders yet accomplish so little for all of his efforts. It is quite possible if he had stayed at these clubs and enjoyed superior training and development he could have better reached his potential. I would really love to see him in Europe to see if playing in a better league would improve his effectiveness although at this point I think he is a bit old to improve dramatically.
This statement is so true. The DeRo of today developed his game by sitting out a year after Zwickau were relegated and refused to release him and then joined Charleston for 1 1/2 seasons in his early 20's. If he'd been at Milan or Barca during that time he would have been light years ahead in his development and likely would have never resorted to playing in North America.