The transfer of American born striker Giuseppe Rossi from Villarreal to Inter Milan looks set to be completed in the January transfer window according to reports from Italy.
Rossi is said to have already agreed to a four-year €14 million contract and all that is left is Inter and Villarreal to agree on the transfer fee.
Rossi has suffered two cruciate ligament injuries in the past 18 months and he has not played a league game in 13 months. But his agent Federico Pastorello is confident he still has the ability to cut it at the top level in his home country.
“Whoever goes for Rossi in January would be doing so with an element of risk as he will only be back in March, but he would be an investment for the future,” said Pastorello.
“I would take a punt on Giuseppe with my eyes closed. If I was an ambitious President, who normally wouldn’t be in a position to sign Rossi, then I would target him.
“After all, I’m certain that Rossi will be a first team starter for the Italian national side at the 2014 World Cup.
“We’re here waiting and we’ll see what happens.”
Rossi himself has been quoted as saying that a move to the Nerazzurri intrigues him telling Gr Parlamento:
“My goal is to get back on the pitch in Spain, Italy or anywhere else,” Rossi said.
“It is not true that I will undergo my recovery at Roma, but I am feeling positive about my knee. Inter? Who would not like to play there? They are a team that I like, with a project that has scope for growth.”
If and its a big if, if Giuseppe Rossi can regain the form he had before he got injured then this will be a great signing for Inter. Rossi is young and talented and could be the long-term replacement for Diego Milito.
In his last full season (2010/11), Giuseppe Rossi scored 32 goals for Villarreal; 18 league goals and 11 in the Europa League. Only Messi and Ronaldo scored more goals in Spain that year.