Former striker Rossi reveals the unusual reason he became a goalkeeper | OneFootball

Agustin Rossi started his career as a midfielder and forward

One of the main characteristics of Agustín Rossi's playing style is his skill with the ball at his feet. The Argentine finds it easy to play out from the back due to his past as a midfielder and forward. However, he became a goalkeeper for a curious reason: he started experiencing knee pain.

— I started in the youth ranks at Chacarita (ARG), which is now in Serie B there, a very big team, but it's their second time there now. But I was an outfield player, not a goalkeeper. I played as a midfielder, forward. Then, when I was about 11 or 12 years old, I started feeling some knee pain. I was still growing, but I was already very tall for my age. I played as a goalkeeper in the older category. In my category, I played as a forward — said Rossi.

— When I started feeling uncomfortable because of my knee, I felt a bit slow, so I wanted to become a goalkeeper. Then the coach said, ‘No, I need you up front.’ But I wanted to go (be a goalkeeper), so I left Chacarita for a year. I played basketball (laughs) and when I came back, I spoke with the youth manager and if I did well in the test, I would stay. So I was tested and started my career as a goalkeeper — added Rossi, to FlamengoTV.

WHAT HAS ROSSI ACHIEVED AT FLAMENGO?

Since Rossi didn't become a competitor to Arrascaeta in Flamengo's midfield, nor a rival to Gui Deodato in the basketball team, the Argentine has made history as a goalkeeper. He has already won four titles: two Carioca championships, a Supercup, and a Copa do Brasil.

Moreover, Rossi broke Flamengo's historical record for the longest time without conceding a goal. At the beginning of last year, the goalkeeper went 1,134 minutes without being scored against, surpassing the record held by Cantarelli, who made his name at Mengão in the 70s and 80s.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇧🇷 here.