FEDERICO MACHEDA made a stunning leap from obscurity yesterday when he scored the sensational injury-time winner on his Manchester United debut against Aston Villa.
Aged just 17, the young Italian, who ran over to his family after scoring, admitted he was in dreamland.
“I think this is the day of my dreams – to score a goal like that on my debut,” said Macheda.
But while that goal heralded Macheda’s arrival on the biggest stage, his prowess in front of goal has been apparent since he arrived at United in September 2007.
Six days before yesterday’s winner, the player known as “Kiko” netted a hat-trick for United’s reserve side in a 3-3 draw at St James Park.
Formerly a member of Lazios
youth system, Macheda signed professional forms on August 22nd, 2008. A powerful forward with a natural eye for goal, he was born in Rome and is regarded in Italy as one of the most promising prospects of his generation.
Having relocated to England to further his career, Macheda has quickly moved up the ranks at United. He started out in the under-18s, but has become a regular in Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s reserves.
He began the 2008/09 campaign with a fine goalscoring run in the youth team and quickly translated that to reserve team football.
