GIUSEPPE ROSSI almost faced the wrath of Roy Keane during a Manchester United training session – but the football gods spared him.
Rossi came up through the United ranks as a teenager before spending three years from 2004-2007 signed to the first team.
During that period, Keane was the Old Trafford captain under the legendary Sir Alex Ferguson.
And Rossi only found out years later that he came within a whisker of getting on the wrong side of the Irish hardman.
Rossi said at the launch of Ladbrokes’ ‘Gaffer of all Accas’: “I remember somebody telling me about something he wrote in his book; he talks about this 17-year-old kid who he’s training with one day.
“Roy yells at this kid, and this kid turns around and gives him the meanest look ever, as if you say ‘go f*** yourself’.
“So Roy says in his book that he was about to go and knock the living crap out of this kid, but he calmed himself, and said to himself, ‘Do you know what? I respect this kid.’
“And it turned out to be Giuseppe Rossi; it turned out to be me!
“I never knew that I did something like that; looking back now I just feel like, on that day, the soccer Gods spared my life, basically!
“I’ve seen Roy a couple of times over the years, and I remember he wanted me at Sunderland when he was their coach – I’ve got great memories of him.”
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Rossi made only 14 appearances for United, with four goals before moving on to Villarreal.
The striker would have successful stints in Spain and Italy, for the likes of Fiorentina before moving to MLS with Real Salt Lake.
Rossi – who was born in New Jersey but raised in Italy – left America for SPAL in Italy before announcing his football retirement in 2023.
Keane left United in 2005 after a falling out with manager Fergie – but Rossi has fond memories of his short time under the midfielder.
He said: “Roy Keane is a legend. He was our leader. I loved playing with the guy, he was a really cool dude off the field too.
Roy yells at this kid, and this kid turns around and gives him the meanest look ever, as if you say ‘go f*** yourself’.
Giuseppe Rossi
“He was just somebody who always wanted to make sure everything was going in the right direction, and sometimes that would rub off the wrong way.
“But I just saw that as somebody who cared a lot, and I’m the same; I’m somebody who cares about their craft, about the character of the team, and making sure that we’re all on the same page and fighting for the same common goal.
“That was Roy’s role at Man United, and he did it perfectly, to a tee.”
