Former United forward Giuseppe Rossi pays tribute to Ferguson

Former Manchester United forward Giuseppe Rossi was among the Italian players who paid tribute to Alex Ferguson on Wednesday following the veteran Scot's announcement that he will retire this summer.

"What a career! Proud and honored to have been coached by Sir Alex Ferguson. #thankyougaffer," Rossi said on his Twitter account.

Fiorentina player Rossi, 26, was signed by Ferguson as a 17-year-old after being part of Parma's youth system.

The Italian had loan spells at Newcastle United and Parma before being sold to Villarreal in 2007 and then signing for Fiorentina earlier this season.

AC Milan forward Kevin-Prince Boateng, who played for Tottenham and Portsmouth in the Premier League and came up against United many times, also paid tribute to the Scot.

"End of an era... #siralexferguson #manunited," Boateng wrote on his Twitter account.