Manchester United fans have witnessed so many legends but few have been able to match the brilliance of Paul Scholes.
Bryan Robson and Roy Keane understandably spring to mind when discussing Manchester United’s best-ever midfielders.
Paul Scholes is right in that conversation too though having racked up more than 700 appearances in the famous red shirt.
The Salford-born maestro was all action in the United midfield and fans will remember his outstanding partnership with Keane forever.
Scholes won 11 Premier League titles in the United engine room alongside three FA Cups, two League Cups and two Champions Leagues.
Edwin van der Sar has praised Scholes as United’s greatest ever player and Sir Alex Ferguson thought he had found a similarly exceptional player.
Photo by John Peters/Manchester United via Getty Images
Photo by John Peters/Manchester United via Getty Images
Sir Alex Ferguson’s Giuseppe Rossi comparison didn’t work out
Ferguson knew just how special Scholes was, so his comments on Giuseppe Rossi back in 2005 turned heads.
Rossi joined United from the Parma youth ranks in 2004, arriving at Old Trafford at the age of just 17.
More United News
Rossi had already shown potential for the Italy youth teams and he certainly caught Ferguson’s eye.
As quoted by Sky Sports, Ferguson suggested that Rossi’s potential at a young age made him comparable to Scholes.
Ferguson claimed that Rossi was ‘similar in ability’ to Scholes as a youngster but different types of players, praising his ‘fantastic’ quality in training sessions.
“If you ask me who was the last striker with Rossi’s potential to come through the ranks here, then I would definitely say Scholesy,” said Ferguson.
“They are different types of players but similar in ability. We have got great hopes for Rossi. He has shown, in his training performances in particular, a fantastic ability,” he added.
That was huge praise for Rossi and he scored on his Premier League debut, taking just nine minutes off the bench to score against Sunderland.
Rossi just couldn’t live up to the billing though and made just 14 first-team appearances for United, scoring four times – a far cry from Scholes’ record at United.
Giuseppe Rossi career profiled after Paul Scholes comparison
Rossi spent the first half of 2006-07 season on loan at Newcastle United with Ferguson keen to see him play Premier League action elsewhere.
That move didn’t really work though with Rossi limited to just one goal in 13 appearances across all competitions.
United were happy for Rossi to return to former club Parma on loan and nine goals in 19 Serie A games showcased his huge potential.
Rather than give him another Premier League chance, United cashed in on Rossi in the summer of 2007.
Rossi was sold to Villarreal, where he became a brilliant player with 82 goals in 192 games, but sadly suffered major knee injuries.
United legend Roy Keane wanted to sign Rossi for Sunderland – presumably in the Premier League – but that just never quite materialised.
2013 brought a return to Italy with Fiorentina, which supplied more goals – and, sadly, more injuries.
Rossi suffered a fifth major injury of his career at Celta Vigo and the rest of his career became rather difficult.
Rossi trained with United in 2019 but spells with Genoa, Real Salt Lake and SPAL didn’t quite work out and Rossi retired in the summer of 2023.
Rossi may not have made the grade at United but he enjoyed a fine career in Italy and Spain whilst also earning 30 Italy caps.
The Scholes comparison may not have worked out but Rossi defied a torrid injury record to showcase his quality around Europe and show just why Ferguson thought so highly of him in the first place.