Federico Macheda’s Agent Says Striker Could Leave Manchester United in January

by

Oct 16, 2012

Federico Macheda's Agent Says Striker Could Leave Manchester United in JanuaryFederico Macheda is disillusioned with life at Manchester United, and he could leave Old Trafford in January.

Macheda's agent, who is set for showdown talks with United manager Sir Alex Ferguson, has put interested clubs on alert, according to Football Italia.

"Manchester United have some phenomenal players in attack, so it is truly difficult for Federico to find space," Giovanni Bia reportedly told ItaSportPress. "It's not true what they write in the English papers that he's going through a bad spell.

"He wants to play and if he cannot do so by January then we'll try to find an alternative solution. I will talk to Sir Alex Ferguson over the next few days.

"Federico was requested by German and Spanish teams over the summer, but the English club preferred to keep hold of him. I hope they understand the situation and let him leave in January, because it makes no sense to keep a 21-year-old on the bench."

Macheda is under contract with United until 2014. Interested clubs would have to meet United's valuation for a player it has been developing for over five years.

The Italian striker joined United from Lazio in 2007. After quickly progressing from the Academy through the reserves, Macheda thought the famous goal he scored against Aston Villa in 2009 would mark the start of a glorious period in United's first team. But that has not been the case, as he has only played 19 Premier League games for United.

Macheda failed to rediscover his best form during loan spells at Sampadoria (in 2011) and Queens Park Rangers (2012). With Robin van Persie, Wayne Rooney, Danny Welbeck and Javier "Chicharito" Hernandez ahead of him in the United pecking order, it's unlikely that the 21-year-old hitman will see extended action with United any time soon.

Should Macheda leave United, an Italian club would be his most likely destination. He has played for Italy at the U-21 level, and scoring goals in Serie A would help draw attention from senior national team officials. Moving to a club in Germany or Spain could make it harder for Macheda to meet his international ambitions in the near term.

Have a question for Marcus Kwesi O'Mard? Send it to him via Twitter at @NESNsoccer, NESN Soccer's Facebook page or send it here. He will pick a few questions to answer every week for his mailbag.

Photo via Twitter/@Football__Tweet

Previous Article

TOUT – NESN

Next Article

Mike Holmgren to Leave Browns as Team is Sold to New Ownership

Picked For You