Giuseppe Rossi's agent has said that the Italian will be staying at Villarreal next year despite speculation linking him with a move to Italy.

The Spanish club had been experiencing financial difficulties before the €19m (£17m) transfer of Santi Cazorla to free-spending Malaga.

"Giuseppe Rossi has officially been taken off the market after they sold Santi Cazorla to Malaga," his agent Federico Pastorello told Sky Italia.

"The economic problems which the club had have now been resolved by that transfer."

Former Manchester United striker Rossi, 24, had been heavily linked with a move to Juventus.

Pastorello added: "He's not used to being at the centre of such negotiations and tension. He wanted Juventus, but he's accepted the position taken by the president of Villarreal."

Striker Rossi scored 32 goals for the Yellow Submarine in all competitions last season.