I won 30 caps for Italy and played under Sir Alex Ferguson at Man Utd - but joining Celtic 'was high on my list'
The former Italian striker has revealed he ‘contemplated’ a move to Celtic during his career and is now encouraging more players to Scotland
Giuseppe Rossi is best remembered for making his professional debut aged 18 for Sir Alex Ferguson’s star-studded Manchester United team and winning 30 international caps for Italy.
But the retired former striker has revealed how joining Celtic was high on his agenda during his successful playing career, which saw him turn out for the likes of Villareal, Fiorentina and Genoa.
Rossi’s first Premier League appearance came as a substitute for Ruud van Nistelrooy against Sunderland at the Stadium of Light in October 2005 and scored just nine minutes after being brought on.
He was presented with an opportunity to join the Hoops after spending three years at Old Trafford and despite heading to Spain instead, he is now encouraging more players to make the move to Scotland.
Giuseppe Rossi opens up on close Celtic call
A transfer to Parkhead may have never materialised but Rossi remains a huge admirer of Scottish football and reckons the Old Firm clash is among the top-three rivalries in world football.
“I had a chance to move to Celtic actually, back in the day,” Rossi stated in an interview with OLBG. “I was contemplating it a lot. It was definitely on my list to try as a new experience, to try something different.
“A team like Celtic has so much history and so much love and I think that’s great, and it would have been a great experience for me to go there. I think most players should try it.
“I remember playing for Genoa and their derby with Sampdoria was amazing to be part of. I really enjoyed that atmosphere.
“Villarreal and Valencia wasn't that crazy. It was good, but nothing crazy. Fiorentina don’t have any local derbies. They just have rivals like Juventus but it's not a real derby. I was at Manchester United but back then it wasn’t the City of today.
“Celtic and Rangers is top three in the world. You put it up there with Roma vs Lazio. That’s a crazy one to witness too. It would have been cool to play a part in an Old Firm derby.”