Former Manchester United coach Rene Meulensteen has criticised the club’s decision to allow Guiseppe Rossi leave seven years ago.
The italian international joined the Red Devils in 2004, but failed to make any impression on boss Sir Alex Ferguson, thus resulting in the player being sold to Villarreal in 2007.
Rossi was later snapped up by Fiorentina in 2013, but has been hit with consistant long-term injuries which have prevented the player from regularaly making an impact in Italy.
The forward is set to miss out for another five months after undergoing surgery on his knee, but speaking at the Soccerex event in Manchester, Meulensteen revealed his admiration for the American-born striker, claiming that if he had been in charge, Rossi would never have been allowed to leave the club.
He said: “[What do I remember of Rossi?] Talent. I’ve always liked him. He’s a professional player.
“Sometimes big clubs must make painful choices but United paid dearly [for allowing him to leave].
“Personally, I would never have let him go because you could see that he was going to be a major star in the Premier League.
“He would have been the equivalent of David Silva, Samir Nasri and Juan Mata, players who play in the middle of the lines.
“Rossi would have been perfect in that position.”
By Ollie Brown
