Fiorentina complete deal for Villarreal striker G. Rossi

Giuseppe Rossi has completed his move from Villarreal to Fiorentina on a contract that ties him to the Serie A club until 2016.


The two clubs struck a deal for the transfer of the Italy international on Friday night and he has now agreed personal terms and will be officially presented to the media later on Monday.

Rossi will not get the chance to play for his new club for another couple of months, however, as he is currently sidelined with a serious knee injury.

The 25-year-old suffered cruciate ligament damage in October 2011 and has had to have surgery three times in the past 18 months.

He is expected to be able to return to action in March or April, and will travel back to America after his press conference with Fiorentina to continue his rehabilitation.

Rossi started his professional career with Manchester United and also had loan spells with Newcastle United and Parma before joining Villarreal in 2007.

Villarreal may now be contending in the second tier of Spanish football but Rossi has fond memories of the east coast outfit's European campaigns, most notably a run to the quarter-finals of the Champions League in the 2008-09 season.

The America-born striker, who has not played since suffering a knee ligament injury in October 2011, said: "I would have made this choice if they'd approached me in the summer.

"I'm very happy to be here at Fiorentina, it's a great club, and the only one who approached me with hard facts rather than just chit-chat.

"I hope to recover as soon as possible so I can start playing in front of the Florence public. The reception they gave me was fantastic and I will remember it forever.

"The team and the club has improved a lot and they play the same kind of football Villarreal were playing five or six years ago - the best there was in Spain."

Rossi is expected to make his long-awaited return to action in March, having undergone surgery on his damaged ligaments three times in less than 18 months.

"This is a new project and I'm happy to play a part in it," he added. "They've given me an opportunity to play top-level football again and we are fighting for big prizes like Champions League qualification.

"The most important thing is to stay grounded, we have a good team and are in fourth place, so we can definitely compete for a European place. It's a long championship but anything can happen."

Viola director of sport Daniele Prade confirmed Rossi has a rescission clause inserted in his contract should things not work out at the Stadio Artemio Franchi.

He said: "He's signed a four-year deal with the option of another four years.

"But he has a 35million euro (£28million) rescission clause for the first two years and that will be reduced to 30million (£24million) for the final two."

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Source: SkySports