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Football

14th Dec 2016

Former Manchester United starlet Federico Macheda signs for Serie B side

He'd been without a club since leaving Cardiff in summer

Simon Lloyd

When a 17-year-old Federico Macheda bagged *that* dramatic injury time winner for Manchester United over Aston Villa in 2009, big things were expected of the Italian.

The goal went a long way to helping United fend off Liverpool’s challenge for their Premier League crown that year, and it was expected by many that Macheda would establish himself as a first team regular at Old Trafford.

However, six seasons and just 19 league appearances later, the Italian’s time at United was officially over.

After several loan spells to a number of different clubs, Macheda ended up at Cardiff City. Again, he failed to make an impact and his contract in the Welsh capital was cancelled in August, leaving him a free agent.

On Wednesday – a couple of days after his former teammate Cristiano Ronaldo landed his fourth Ballon d’Or – it was confirmed that Macheda had himself a(nother) new club. Eight years on from leaving Lazio for United, the striker has returned to Italy, inking an 18-month deal with Serie B side, Novaro.