Giuseppe Rossi has said that one remarkable former Manchester United teammate frightened him at Old Trafford under iconic ex-Red Devils boss Sir Alex Ferguson.
Sir Alex Ferguson is widely regarded as one of the best managers of all time and the former Manchester United manager enjoyed incredible success at Old Trafford.
The 83-year-old Scotsman engineered all 13 of United’s Premier League title wins and lifted two Champions League trophies, five FA Cups and four League Cups.
The Red Devils famously lifted their iconic continental treble win under former boss Ferguson, who pulled off the feat with United in their famous 1998-99 season.
Ferguson bowed out of Old Trafford in 2013 after the Scot ended his 26-year reign, with United lifting their last Premier League trophy in the 2012-13 campaign.
During his illustrious time at Old Trafford, Ferguson brought a whole host of players through the United youth academy and signed all kinds of talent from abroad.
The Aberdeen and United legend brought Giuseppe Rossi to Old Trafford in 2004 after the Red Devils landed the US-born former player from Parma’s youth academy.
Giuseppe Rossi reveals the impact that Man Utd legend Nemanja Vidic had on him at Old Trafford under Sir Alex Ferguson
Giuseppe Rossi scored four times and picked up one assist in 14 Manchester United first-team appearances under Sir Alex Ferguson at Old Trafford.
The 38-year-old former Italy international spent time on loan at Newcastle and Parma before the Red Devils sold Rossi to Spanish side Villarreal in 2007.
Ahead of his Old Trafford exit, Rossi crossed paths with Nemanja Vidic after Ferguson signed the legendary Serbian from Spartak Moscow in 2006.
Nemanja Vidic struck up a phenomenal centre-back partnership with fellow United legend Rio Ferdinand and he was a key defensive figure under Ferguson.
Speaking about former United captain Vidic, Rossi told FourFourTwo magazine: “I remember being scared stiff of ‘Big Vida’ on his first day at Manchester United.
“This bloke was fearless. He’d kick you in the face or knee you in the back to make sure the ball stayed out of the net.
“He was an animal on the pitch, but off it, he was the nicest guy you’d imagine. In the football world, having that alter ego is important.”
Giuseppe Rossi witnessed Cristiano Ronaldo’s superstar rise at Man Utd before he left Old Trafford
Giuseppe Rossi admitted that Cristiano Ronaldo, much like Nemanja Vidic, was also one of the United players who impressed him before his 2007 transfer to Villarreal.
“I knew he had all of the qualities to become the top player on the planet,” he said.
“His relentless mentality sets him apart, and he transformed the game in terms of preparation, training and recovery.
“At United, he was flash; at Real Madrid, he was ultra-efficient.”
Rossi, who retired from football in 2023 after his final spell with SPAL, played 192 times for Villarreal and the former United player scored 82 times for the club.
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