SANDY, Utah (AP) – Forward Giuseppe Rossi signed Thursday with Major League Soccer's Real Salt Lake, 21 months after his last competitive match.
The 33-year-old from Clifton, New Jersey, had spent his entire professional career in Europe after moving when he was 12 to join Parma's youth academy. He has been derailed by five major knee injuries.
Rossi played for Manchester United (2004-06), Newcastle (2006), Parma (2007), Villarreal (2007-12), Fiorentina (2013-17), Levante (2016), Celta Vigo (2016-17) and Genoa (2017-18).
His career was interrupted when he tore his right ACL against Real Madrid on Oct. 26, 2011, then re-tore the ligament during training on April 13, 2012.