Giuseppe ‘Pepito’ Rossi needed just 12 minutes to make his mark with the first goal for SPAL, ending his 454-day goal drought.
The New Jersey-born Italy international returned to the Peninsula this month by signing for Serie B outfit SPAL.
He came off the bench against Alessandria last week and played 20 minutes, while today he was introduced at half-time against Cosenza and scored the decisive goal.
Rossi popped up to nod in a corner for the 1-0 win away to Cosenza.
His last goal in all competition was on August 30, 2020, when Pepito found the net in the MLS match between Portland Timbers and Real Salt Lake.
He hadn’t found the net on Italian soil since a 3-2 result between Genoa and Fiorentina in May 2018.
The 34-year-old started in the Parma youth academy, moving to Manchester United in 2004 as a teenager.
He went on to represent Newcastle United, Villarreal, Fiorentina, Levante, Celta Vigo, Genoa, Real Salt Lake and from November 19 now SPAL.
1️⃣3️⃣0️⃣1️⃣ 𝗴𝗶𝗼𝗿𝗻𝗶 𝗱𝗼𝗽𝗼, 𝗣𝗘𝗣𝗜𝗧𝗢 𝗜𝗦 🔙! #ForzaSPAL #Rossi pic.twitter.com/kGt1BdYdr3
— SPAL (@spalferrara) November 27, 2021
This guy had so much promise, but was just riddled with knee injuries. Wish him the best.