Clubs: Manchester United FC, Newcastle United FC (loan), Parma FC (loan), Villarreal CF

• Born to Italian-American parents in New Jersey, Rossi moved to Italy at the age of 12 when he was offered the opportunity to play youth football for Parma.

• Scouted by Manchester United after several appearances for Italy's youth teams, the young striker signed his first professional contract with the Old Trafford club at the age of 17.

• Found first-team opportunities hard to come by at United but helped the Red Devils win the 2005/06 League Cup; spent the first half of 2006/07 on loan to Newcastle before a temporary spell back at Parma, where he blossomed, scoring nine goals in 19 league games to help the Ducali avoid relegation from Serie A.

• Sold by United to Villarreal in summer 2007, he prospered in Spain, registering at least ten times in each of his first four campaigns and adding several more in Europe, where he finished as the second highest scorer in the 2010/11 UEFA Europa League with 11 goals as the Yellow Submarine reached the semi-finals.

• Rejected overtures from the United States and made his first senior appearance for Italy in October 2008 before starring at the following summer's FIFA Confederations Cup and scoring twice against the country of his birth in a 3-1 win.

• Did not return to South Africa for the 2010 FIFA World Cup, however, after being surprisingly omitted by Marcello Lippi, but was subsequently restored by Cesare Prandelli and scored in early 2011 friendlies away to Germany and Ukraine.

• Was ruled out for six months after tearing the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee during a 3-0 Liga defeat by Real Madrid CF on 26 October 2011.