Guiseppe Rossi has signalled his intention to stay at Villarreal after another summer of transfer links to other clubs.
The Italian forward had reportedly been a transfer target of Barcelona and Juventus at different stages of the summer. However, the financial boost provided by the sale of Santi Cazorla to Malaga has allowed the Yellow Submarine to redress their stance over Rossi, and demand a €30m fee, an action that has deterred Atletico Madrid, the latest club rumoured to be monitoring the Italy international.
The player’s agent, Federico Pastorello, confirmed that the 24-year-old had been ‘taken off the market’ and will stay at El Madrigal. Rossi told Gazzetta dello Sport: “I am not thinking about (Juventus) any more. I feel good at Villarreal and I am happy to be at this club. I feel great here and I want to experience new rewards to go with those I’ve already had in previous years.”
The former Manchester United player added: “When I say I feel good here, I mean it. I have been at Villarreal for four years and I’ve never had a problem. I’m totally focused on the new season as are all my team-mates and soon we have the Champions League play-off to contend with and there is no need to stress how important that is.”
The attacker, who has had stints at Newcastle United and Param, enjoyed an excellent 2010-11 campaign for fourth-placed Villarreal, scoring 32 goals and assisting a further nine from 56 appearances. It was this form that prompted speculation of a move to clubs in England, Italy and Spain, but for the time being Rossi will focus on the season ahead with the la Primera Division club.
