Barely three weeks ago, reports from Italy were linking Serie A's biggest clubs to 21-year-old Italian-American starlet Giuseppe Rossi, who had put in a sterling loan spell at Parma in the second half of last season to help the Italian giant stave off relegation. But demand for the Manchester United striker has died down now that it's obvious he will be surplus to requirements at Old Trafford next season.
The arrival of Carlos Tevez, subject to clearance from FIFA, means the English champion would have six strikers on its roster: Wayne Rooney, Louis Saha, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, Alan Smith, Tevez and Rossi. Now that the Tevez situation looks to be heading in United's favor, Sir Alex Ferguson hinted that Rossi will be sold. "I have to look at Manchester United in terms of how do we improve to get better," says Ferguson. "And when someone like Tevez comes along, it makes it difficult for people like Alan Smith and Giuseppe in particular."
However, Parma's interest in the player looks to have died on the very day Ferguson made those remarks, as the club's director of sports, Gabriele Zamagna, claimed, "Parma's attack does not need reinforcements for the moment." Juventus, whose coach Claudio Ranieri was in charge of Parma when Rossi scored nine goals in 16 appearances last season, is believed to be interested in the New Jersey product, although the club has said nothing publicly. Neither has Napoli, which is also said to be monitoring the situation.
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