The pending arrival of Carlos Tevez at Old Trafford looks to have sparked a bidding war across Italy for Manchester United’s young Italian-American striker Giuseppe Rossi. The 19-year-old, loaned out to Serie A’s Parma in January, played integral part in the Italian club’s campaign to stave off relegation, scoring nine goals in 19 appearances. Parma last week offered United $12 million for Rossi, but reports in Italy claim that both AC Milan and Juventus are preparing stronger bids.
Milan vice president Adriano Galliani on Tuesday spoke with club president Silvio Berlusconi about making an offer for Rossi, who was born in Teaneck, N.J. The Italian press believes Rossi would be willing to join Milan, despite pledging his future to Man United at the end of last season. The Rossoneri need new strikers with Alberto Gilardino unhappy and likely to move, and Ricardo Oliveira on the verge of being loaned out to Real Zaragoza in Spain. That would leave Filippo Inzaghi and Ronaldo as the club’s only strikers.
Meanwhile, Football Italia reports that Juventus, at the request of its new coach and former Parma coach Claudio Ranieri, Portuguese giant FC Porto and Fiorentina are also mulling a Rossi bid. The latter is said to be offering United $16 million and Rossi a starting salary of $1.6 million per season.