Former Italy international Rossi, who was born in New Jersey and started his professional career on the books at Old Trafford, graced MLS ranks with Real Salt Lake in 2020. He is now watching on from afar as more household names head to the United States.
One of those is ex-Liverpool and Barcelona frontman Suarez, with the South American having been reunited with Lionel Messi in South Florida. Success has been enjoyed there, but the 38-year-old made more unfortunate headlines recently after being caught spitting at a member of the Seattle Sounders’ coaching staff.
It is not the first time that Suarez’s behaviour has fallen under the microscope, with some lengthy bans having been handed out down the years, and it is those character flaws that mean Rossi will never go out of his way to watch the iconic No.9 in action.
Rossi told Boyle Sports, who offer the latest Champions League betting: “Luis Suarez was stupid. The guy’s a great striker. One of the best finishers in our game in the past 20 years. I love watching him play, but he’s got those antics that are crap.
“It’s literally not called for. I don’t care who you are. I don’t care what you did in the past. On the field, I don’t care about that stuff. These type of antics when it comes to spitting on people, we could go and reminisce on certain things that he’s done in the past. You lose a lot of respect.
“He loses a lot of respect in the world, in the soccer world and in the sports world. So he’s got to understand that these things can happen, but I don’t think he would ever learn from that just because it’s been something that’s going on for a long time.
“So off the field, no respect. On the field, big admiration because of the things that he was able to accomplish. But for me, you’re only as good as you are as a man and not anything more. So let’s just say I wouldn’t be buying a ticket to go watch a game if he comes to play here in New York. That’s just the way that I’m wired when it comes to athletes and who they are as a human being because that’s the most important thing.”
Messi and Suarez – who will be back after his latest suspension – are due in the Big Apple to face New York City FC on September 24. Rossi will not be among those clamouring for tickets despite Inter Miami being a huge draw for most supporters in North America.
