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Federico Macheda talks about his time at Manchester United, touching on a variety of topics during his England career, including Sir Alex Ferguson and Cristiano Ronaldo.
In an interview with former United captain Rio Ferdinand on his show Vibe with Five, the Italian spoke candidly about the ups and downs of his football life.
After joining the Red Devils from hometown club Lazio in Rome aged just 16, Macheda recalled what it felt like to be scouted by United.
Describing the approach as “feeling weird” and that he “didn’t believe it”, Macheda tells how he was promised a better life in Manchester for him and his parents and so the whole family moved in 2008.
Macheda made an immediate impact for United and despite being just 16, he was thrown into the U18 squad from the start, scoring on his debut and finishing the season as top scorer.
But after spending two seasons in United’s world-renowned youth set-up, the striker became disillusioned with the Manchester lifestyle, feeling his family were not better off after the move as they had been promised.
And when asked about his former Reds boss giving him a chance in a United shirt, Macheda told how he first spoke to Ferguson.
Already 18 years old and knocking on the door of the first team, Macheda intended to return to Italy. It took an intervention from Ferguson himself, who promised to “fix the situation” for the Italian to settle down and commit his future to United.
Armed with assurances from Sir Alex that things would improve if he stayed in Manchester, ‘Kiko’ continued to impress for United’s reserves and the Italian national team at youth level.
And his performances were rewarded soon after, being selected as a substitute in United’s home game against Aston Villa in April 2008.
With Fergie’s men trailing 2-1, the boss stuck to form, trusting the youth to represent United and show why the youth system is the best in the world, and so he introduced young Macheda late in the game. before Cristiano Ronaldo grabbed the equalizer.
As the game entered the 93rd minute, the young Italian made his name in Manchester United history with a sharp turn and shot from just outside the box. The Stretford End watched in awe as the curling shot earned the Red Devils a dramatic victory.
And as Macheda walks away to look for his father, celebrating the win together as the crowd erupts around them, it seems to vindicate the decision not to return to Italy just a few months earlier.
Federico spent the next two seasons on the fringes of the United team, despite a heroic debut and, after a spell with injury, finally returning home to Italy, joining Sampdoria on loan.
Spending the next 3 seasons on loan at 6 different clubs before joining Cardiff, Macheda left England for good in 2016, 7 years after that wonder goal at Old Trafford.
And in the interview, the now 31-year-old also talks about how he has always found Ronaldo nice, describing the Portuguese as “out of this world”.
Despite his many regrets and missed opportunities to reach the very top, fortunes changed for Macheda in 2018 when he left Serie B side Novara and signed for Panathinaikos.
Macheda scored plenty of goals in his four seasons there, describing how he returned to football at the Greek giants and is now plying his trade in the Turkish league.
But despite only appearing for United 19 times and never representing Italy at full level, Kiko remembers his time there, as well as the club, fondly… and will always be remembered for that dramatic winner at Old Trafford .
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