Former Manchester United striker Giuseppe Rossi has called for a remarkable reunion at Old Trafford, suggesting that the club should consider bringing Wayne Rooney back into the setup. The ex-Red Devils forward believes that appointing the club’s all-time top scorer to a coaching role would be a masterstroke that fans would wholeheartedly support.

Rossi backs Rooney’s return

Rossi has proposed a daring plan for Manchester United, arguing that the team could gain significantly by bringing Rooney back to the Theatre of Dreams. He feels that Rooney’s presence on the sidelines alongside his former teammate Michael Carrick would add a strong sense of tradition and unity to the club’s coaching structure.

Speaking exclusively to Ozoon about the FIFA World Cup, Rossi said: “His way of working seems very similar; I think that’s a winning formula. It would be great to see other former players on the coaching staff, and Rooney would definitely be an interesting addition. They shared a great friendship and understanding during their playing days. Just imagine if Wazza returned as an assistant—now that would be pretty crazy. The fans would absolutely love it.”

Carrick applauded for leadership

The Italian-American forward also took the opportunity to praise Michael Carrick for the job he is currently doing. Rossi expressed his satisfaction with the club’s recent direction, remarking that entrusting the team to someone who truly understands Manchester United’s DNA was the right call, even if it came later than it should have.

Highlighting the importance of internal culture, Rossi added: “I’m really happy for Carrick and his team. They’ve done a fantastic job this season. Honestly, I don’t know why it took so long, but I’m glad the right choice was made. Having someone who appreciates the club’s culture and won’t change things unnecessarily is crucial. Manchester United’s identity is built on a specific philosophy established by Sir Alex Ferguson, and Michael understands that perfectly.”

The Ferguson versus Guardiola debate

Looking beyond United’s current coaching setup, Rossi offered his view on the long-standing debate about who is the greatest manager in Premier League history. While acknowledging the transformative influence of Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola, Rossi maintained that Sir Alex Ferguson’s sustained success still sets the ultimate benchmark in world football.

Sharing his thoughts on the two managerial icons, Rossi said: “I personally lean towards Ferguson, but it’s definitely a fair comparison considering what Pep has accomplished—how he has changed the game and what he has achieved in his ten years at Manchester City. He fully deserves all the recognition and respect he gets.”

Longevity as the key difference

Rossi concluded that even though Guardiola has reached extraordinary levels of excellence, Ferguson’s enduring dominance over two decades places him in a unique category.

Explaining his point of view, Rossi remarked: “The reason I always say Sir Alex Ferguson is unmatched is because of his longevity and his ability to sustain greatness for more than twenty years. That’s an incredibly difficult thing to achieve. Guardiola is very close to that level in the Premier League, but he hasn’t maintained it for as long—and that’s the key difference.”