Wed Aug 1 00:03:30 2007

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Villarreal signs striker Rossi to six-year deal

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Madrid, Spain (Sports Network) - Spain's Villarreal signed former Manchester United striker Giuseppe Rossi, an American-born Italian, to a six-year deal on Tuesday.

Rossi, 20, was acquired for a transfer fee of approximately $14 million. He joined Manchester United in 2004 and spent the second half of last season on loan with Italian Serie A club Parma.

Rossi scored four times in 14 appearances for Manchester United since joining the club as a 16-year-old. He scored nine goals for Parma last year, helping the team avoid relegation.

Villarreal finished fifth in Spain's La Liga last season. Villarreal, which has never won a league title, opens the 2007-08 season on Aug. 26 at six-time league champion Valencia.

Real Madrid won the La Liga last season on a tiebreaker over Barcelona.

Defending English Premier League champion Manchester United opens its 2007-08 season on Aug. 11 when it hosts Reading.