Former player calls out Luis Suárez: “Off the field, no respect” | OneFootball

Giuseppe Rossi has never been one to mince words and the former Italy international made headlines this week for his blunt take on Luis Suárez.

Rossi, who grew up in New Jersey and started his career at Manchester United before starring at Villarreal, Fiorentina and later MLS side Real Salt Lake, says he wouldn’t pay to watch the Uruguayan play when Inter Miami visit New York.

For Rossi, it’s not about talent. He calls Suárez one of the best strikers of his generation but says the player’s behavior overshadows his achievements.

“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.” (Goal.com)

Giuseppe Rossi draws the line on Suárez’s behavior

Suárez, 38, was recently banned from the Leagues Cup after spitting at a member of the Seattle Sounders’ coaching staff. For Rossi, that’s just the latest in a long pattern of behavior that goes back to Suárez’s biting controversies in Europe and it’s why his respect for the Uruguayan has worn thin.

“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.”

Rossi was clear that his admiration for Suárez’s game remains but only up to a point.

“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.”

And that’s why he says he won’t be in the stands when Inter Miami come to play in New York.

“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.”