Federico Macheda, Manchester United’s forgotten man, has claimed that David Moyes has shown nothing of the belief Sir Alex Ferguson had for the 22-year-old striker who is now resigned to leave Old Trafford in the summer, six years on from THAT goal against Aston Villa in April 2009.
Macheda’s turn and strike deep into stoppage time sunk Villa and put United on course for a record-equalling 18th title, as they managed to keep a resurgent Liverpool at arm’s length thanks, in no small part, to the then teenager late goal against Aston Villa in a 3-2 win and against Sunderland the following week.
Six years on from the moment that made him famous, Macheda is rebuilding his career at Birmingham – his fourth loan spell away from United after brief stints at Sampdoria, QPR, Stuttgart and Doncaster Rovers – ahead of being released by the club this summer, when the four-year deal he signed in 2010 will expire.
“I don’t think I will stay at United but whatever happens, nobody can take away the memories of my time there,” Macheda told today’s Telegraph.
“Sir Alex was amazing for me, he believed in me so much. After I scored two goals against Charlton last month he sent me a text message straight after the game. That was incredible because I hadn’t spoken to him for a long time so to get that text was a relief. He said, ’Well done and keep going’.”
Macheda last played for United against Cluj in the group stage of the 2012-13 Champions League and given United have decided against including a recall clause in his loan deal, he’s expected to leave the club in the summer, particularly as he admitted that David Moyes has barely spoken to him since arriving at Old Trafford in July.
“I haven’t had that much to do with him [Moyes] because he has been working with the first team,” said Macheda. “I’ve been left out from the team and of course that was disappointing but you can understand a new manager wanting to work with new players.
“He made his choice and I went my way, everyone was happy. I spoke with him before I came here. I said I wanted to go to Birmingham and he agreed, so that was that.
“I didn’t go on pre-season this summer and I don’t know why. But I was prepared because I knew the new manager would want to bring in new players.”
Those new players never arrived, apart from Marouane Fellaini, but Macheda admitted that he can only blame himself for not fulfilling his talent at United, wasting what many thought would be a bright future.
“Being at United is great but if you don’t play it’s better if you go somewhere else where you can play every game and have a career.
“Maybe I should have gone somewhere on loan for a whole season, instead of just for six months, and played somewhere else for the important years of my career.
“I’ve been at United since leaving Italy when I was 15 and it’s been crazy sometimes because I didn’t play much. But I played my part and I will always look back on that.
“I’m only 22 and people forget I’m still very young. When I broke into the first team I was a baby. It looks like I’ve been there for 10 years.”
Even though he’d cause for bitterness after having been completely ignored by David Moyes, the Italian can’t explain why United have been so dismal this season, but he’s confident they’ll bounce back.
“It’s been very difficult, I don’t know the reasons why,” said Macheda. “Are new players needed? Well yes, of course, but last season they won the title with the same team and now they’ve got Juan Mata.
“People say they need new signings but it’s still basically the same team that finished first last year. It’s a big gap to the top four but they could have a chance. This season the title has gone but there is always next season.
“You have to have something to be the United manager and hopefully his quality will come out to the players for next season. With the players they’ve got they will bounce back.”
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