Aug 01
Goodbye, Rossi
It’s that sinking feeling. Again.
Another very promising player leaves the club. Last year, we saw Dave Jones – a promising midfielder – leave due to overcrowding of our midfield (which, in turn, was due to the arrival of Carrick). He would go on to inspire Derby to promotion to the Premiership. The reason I felt bad for Jones was that he wasn’t even given a fair run in the side. But that said, there wasn’t much of a chance anyway, given our acquisition of Carrick. After I got over the initial disappointment, my only gripe was the mere 1 million quid we got for him. (Really, that is chicken feed-in modern football transfer dealings.)
But to think that our brightest young talent, in a long time, would be sold – despite outstanding performances in the reserve level, and equally impressive performances in the Serie A for Parma – without being given as much as a sniff of a run for the senior side is gut wrenching.
To spell it out to everyone in explicit terms, Rossi has been sold to Villarreal for £6.7m.
In pure professional terms, it was a great bit of business. We bought him for peanuts and sold him for a good sum. But there itself lies testament to the value of the player. Rossi has been hailed by none other than Ruud van Nistelrooy as one of the best finishers he’s seen. Sir Alex would also concur. His performances at the reserve level, where he scored for fun, were proof enough that he belonged to a higher level. Unfortunately, his spell at Newcastle proved to be his undoing. A good run in a Premiership club would have instilled faith in SAF to give him a chance in the team this season. But with hardly any playing time at Newcastle, one could never be sure if his dimunitive frame was suited for the Premiership.
However, to be fair and realistic, we must trust the judgement of SAF here. There is one fact that remains true of our side. If we get Tevez, there will be far too many similar types of players. Rossi again doesn’t offer the aerial threat and specialises in playing off a target striker. In a team with Tevez and Rooney, both of whom typically revel in similar roles, a fair run for Rossi would seem far fetched, save for the odd FA Cup and Carling Cup appearance.
From a personal career point of view, this is the time where he needs regular football at a high level in order to improve and grow as a player, and a club like Villarreal would certainly guarantee that, now with the departure of Diego Forlan – another ex-United player – from their ranks. Villarreal are not a huge club, like the Juves and the Milans. They will certainly guarantee Rossi regular playing time while their presence in the UEFA Cup this season would ensure Rossi plays good opposition too. The technical nature of the La Liga would give him more time on the ball and I wouldn’t be surprised if he plays a blinder of a season, a la Diego Forlan. Although I would certainly be cursing our luck if that happens. Not to mention, the immense joy it would give the ‘Dippers and the rest of the league.
Anyway, we have seen great stars sold from our club and seen our club get stronger. But selling promising talent without them getting a chance to prove their mettle might be even more frustrating. It is like the baby that everyone looks forward to but dies due to miscarriage. If I am permitted to use that form of an analogy, that is. It does pose a serious question, not just to us, but a lot of teams in the Premiership: Aren’t we being increasingly guilty of not being able to keep faith on players that come off our youth system? Okay, Rossi wasn’t exactly our product, but he was picked off Parma at a very young age, like how Fabregas was picked off Barcelona. But aren’t we succumbing to the pressure posed by clubs that have now become well endowed with cash, that we’d rather go for ready-made talent, in order to keep up? Well of course, we don’t really have much choice these days and all we can do is to move on, put it behind us, and hope for another young one to light our Theatre of Dreams.
Till then Good bye, Rossi. We wish you the very best. Go make yourself proud.
Related items from Red Rants:
- Rossi Scores Two in Two Games
- Rossi’s place at Manchester United
- Rossi’s future at Manchester United
- Goodbye Smith, Welcome Tevez
- U21 European Championship: Rossi and Nani’s Goal Videos
Tags: Manchester United Players



Havent u heard that..Rossi business was initiated by Rossi itself as he dint want to be a bench warmer or a reserve player anymore..He has proved himself last time at Parma..Fergie was in no mood to sell this player coz he knows where quality is..Unforutnately as Rossi insisted he was sold to Villareal with afirst option in the contract…that means we can any time buy him back before anyone else…now thats Smart Fergie
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is it just me or are we looking a the wrong side full back we have got a great left back in evra and his not that old we need a right back plus if we are going to buy one i would like it to be english baines maybe but i think fergies looking on the wrong side off the pitch
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Thank god! so this is a win win situation if rossi develops into a world class player we get him if he doesnt them well hell stay there brilliant alex brilliant!
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I don’t get it. How is it that Chelski can have all these players, many of whom do not play in the first XI weekly, and still keep them from jumping ship like Rossi? I know they pay their players insane salaries, but do they really pay that much? Hopefully SAF will realize what he’s done in a year or two, sell Dong, and activate that clause in Rossi’s contract.
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Fraizer Campbell Striker Daniel Simpson right Full-Back just two great platers in our reserves why dont we give them a chance both english and both play in posions we need i hoping to see them and a few others this season at least in the micky mouse cup
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on the bright side SAF has given him something very important- to develop his career. Even tohugh he let him go he so it important for him to develop rather than sit on the sidelines and guess what Fergie will be the one to shoulder the blame
on the down side
1. really feel sad he wasnt given a chance to fully prove his skills at OT
2. Though fergie has ’caused major outrage’ by selling top players(Mourinho will bite his head off if you told him to let drogba go) and still stay strong I think one of these fine days its gonna get back at him. not wishing him any bad luck(God Forbid) but you never know what happens in football.
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heinze chielini swap would be a good bit of buissness aswell
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ye his a great young player but i think we real do need a right back
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agreed but who? brown can play there so can evans and even pique but none r as good asgary neville
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theres nobody who really stands out is there other then maybe richards alot of money though, but if his not going to buy anyone his got to give the youngsers a chance. is neville fully fit yet anyway
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As I read the option on Rossi – It’s a right of first refusal = if VillaReal don’t want to sell them ManU can’t execute the option. If Villa do consider selling them, ManU would have the option, first choice, of buying him back at a predetermined price.
You can’t really blame the lad for wanting first team futbol and as SAF couldn’t guarantee him that, on a regular basis, he wanted to move. If you feel that it’s unfortunate we are losing a young lad I ask you this. “Who would you have sit so Rossi can be in the starting XI day in a day out?” I can’t come up with an answer to this and I’m guessing SAF couldn’t either which is why was willing to move on. Kevin
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no not yet but hopefully for the start of the season. any new on the inter game
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United were pretty much played off the pitch, though shouldn’t be down 3-1. For my money all 3 goals are evra’s fault. First a missed header on the 6 yard line, led to first goal then lost posession (admittedly looked a foul, wasn’t given) which led to second and third time barely made it back into United’s half by the time the goal was scored. He’s clearly waaaay to attacking.
United central midfield have virtually had no posession. Inter own the centre of the pitch. Kind of worrying, that’s not a poor team out there either…
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who scored the goals?
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what teams he playing 2nite
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well we are lacking proper match fitness now that we r used 2 the humid temperatures in asia and inter have already played villareal and arsenal so they have played against good opposition
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ye but come on we should be better them sort of team if we wont the CL this season what was the starting 11 2 night
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Videos of goals
http://reddevilsrant.wordpress.com/2007/08/01/review-manchester-united-vs-inter-milan/
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Vds in goal back line brown vida ferdinand evra midfield .eagles o shea carrick and ronaldo upfront giggs and ronaldo manu lost the game i feel in midfield.we do need scholesy and hargo coz o shea cant play in mid.no sign of smith so i think its safe to say hes gone.
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Erm, you guys, Fergie masterstroke on this deal is that United have a clause in his cintract at Villareal to take him back in the future?? And Red Ranter- your lack of faith in the youth system is a wee bit melodramatic, dare I say it, almost read like you were doom saying- you forget the likes of Evans, Eagles and Campbell to name but three players that have already shown big things, all youth product, all to see action over the next season and a half. Our youth setup is second to none but if some of the youngsters want more footy then they want and have to move- Rossi wanted more first team footy then could be promised and so the deal was worked out best for everyone- he gets top class footy at Villareal and if he cranks it up we activate the clause in his contract- happy days.
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tevez deal could be sorted 2day
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yes im still going on about rossi and i now about the clause but i dont see why he didnt sell saha get about £7-9M and buy gudjohnson then we would have rooney tevez ole rossi and gudjohnson and maybe mith but he will prpley leave that alot of good strikers that could help make rossi a star of the future. i wish we could find another young right because brown great ye but his 28 and i throught we were building for the future. and when that said day comes when paul ryan gary and edwin retire how do you think will get the armband. what do you think will be the starting 11 for man utd on sunday
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rooney will get the armband in 2 yrs time for sure
sundays match: VDS, brown, vida, ferdinand, evra, ronaldo, oshea, carrick, eagles, rooney, giggs same as the inter game
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ye could be not showing to much of his talent at the same time best to keep it hiden until the start of the season
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eagles as you sore this player his great did you see the goal in asian wow its a shame he place right wing but like i said before i can see rooney and ronaldo playing up front together for some part of this season so eagles may get his chance
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yh eagles is a good player and very young
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i want some news on manchester united im bored ye i now we might me getting tezez in 2 days but its a big maybe. as anyone got any more big new about man utd
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any new posts 2day?
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i have news anderson and hargo are going to make there debut tomorrow i now a lot of big news to take on but deep breaths ye
god i need some important news HELP
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I feel gutted by this. I did not have a chance to read through all the comments, so am just curios as to what the “we can buy him back” clause is that SAF referred to.
Your anology of the miscarraige could not have hit a deeper spot…we just had a stillborn yesterday
See you soon Rossi… see you soon Carlo…
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goodbye smith aswell, the last few days have been sad for united fans, hopefully tevez will join and shed some happiness(cant spell)
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I doubt the tevez deal will be done today seriously doubt it
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Karl – sorry for your bereavement.
The Tevez deal won’t be done today or tomorrow, but SAF must be absolutely certain, it’ll go through, when he slets both Rossi and Smith go.
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manutd.com confirms Smith to go to Newcastle
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so what we going to do if we dont get tevez
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I wonder what the odds are, of the 3 top scorers in La Liga next season being Van Nistelrooy, Forlan and Rossi?
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Bad news all over the place not a gr8 start to the season
Tevez fears for his fitness
http://www.manutd.com/default.sps?pagegid=%7BB4CEE8FA%2D9A47%2D47BC%2DB069%2D3F7A2F35DB70%7D&newsid=449396
Reds agree Smith deal ( Steve already said that)
http://www.manutd.com/default.sps?pagegid=%7BB4CEE8FA%2D9A47%2D47BC%2DB069%2D3F7A2F35DB70%7D&newsid=449629
I’ll be back, vows Park – But when bro When ???
And yes the Big One we Fucking lost To Inter
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we need more striker lets sign gudjohnson with the money from smithy
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Some Breaking Good News (Might Be a rumor or something)
Irons clear path for Tevez transfer
http://red11.org/mufc/NewsViewerItem.do?newsdate=1186082122213
Some imp excerpts
West Ham are on Friday expected to announce they have agreed to release Carlos Tevez from his contract so he can join Manchester United.
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Usually a little more credible, The Times:
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/premiership/west_ham/article2189494.ece
Looks good, I’d say. Perhaps we’ll see him on the sideline for sunday’s match wearing the proud red colour.
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do u guts agree but do u think we should buy gudjohnson and sell saha cost the same same age sort of and gudjohnsons better and is not always injured
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well its gonna be a good night sleep for me now after a shitty day 2day
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if he signs 2morrow (which i am sure he will) will he be able 2 play 4 us on satarday and even feature in sundays?
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hold on 1 minute £6m for smith but £16m for bent what a joke i think smith is a way better player then bent do u guys agree and every one say we play attacking football ye weve go anderson rooney nani ronaldo and now probley tevez and also scholes etc but we have got that much good strikers we need more tevez rooney ye great but i think saha will be injured for most of the season and ole will to we need to buy maybe 1 more or we should of keep smith or rossi
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BBC Five Live’s Nigel Adderley said: “A settlement has been reached, and that could be ratified by the Premier League and Football Association on Friday.”
so i think he might be able to play its his fitness that is the worry
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WTF its not his fitness thats the worry, all he is saying is he needs match fitness which is complete bull shit not from tevez but there is nothing wrong with him at all, he was at the copa america and even if we signed him a month ago he still wouldnt have played for us because, like anderson and heinze, he would have been off on a holiday!!!
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Thanku god now.i only have 1 thing left to say rely.treble here we come!
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Ollie Y tottaly agree with you. Good news all the news agency are reporting the the deal for Tevez has been completed we only need for FA to sanction it(which they should cause reports suggest that their lawyers were part of negotiations). I just can’t wait to see him wairing red. GO MAN UTD!!!!!!!!!!
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Is this the day!!!! Plzzz
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Hopefully harry today or tomorrow
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