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The Curious Case of Frederico Macheda: Why Italy are Losing Youth to English Teams

April 15th, 2009 | By: Julian | 47 Comments »

By now, this story is probably old news. Man U sign a young Italian player from Lazio. They sub him in during the dying minutes of their game against Aston Villa, where he scores an incredible goal. In his next game, he scores an opportunistic/lucky/instinctual (depending on your viewpoint) goal against Sunderland. 2 games, 2 goals for the young Italian striker. Not bad at all. But why is he playing on Man U to begin with?

In simple terms, Man U were the first to sign him to a contract. But he grew up playing football in Italy. Curious, isn’t it, that the lad actually started out in Lazio’s youth system. Why didn’t Lazio sign him to a contract before Man U came in and signed him? Was it that they didn’t think he was good enough?

Well, no. Lazio president Claudio Lotito has come out and stated that Man U “poached” Macheda from them. This isn’t the first time that the word “poached” has been used to describe English teams signing young Italian players. Macheda’s goals have only reignited a debate that’s been going on for years- English clubs supposedly stealing Italian youth. But why? Why don’t the Italian clubs sign the players and offer them a contract before the English ones?

To put it simply, they can’t. ESPN Soccernet explains it well:

The Italian system currently prevents young players from putting pen to paper before their 18th birthday, allowing Europe’s elite to offer up lucrative terms (with the promise of locating their families and friends to the new country) and a guaranteed deal when they turn 17.

English clubs only have to satisfy a rule which states that Academy players over the age of 11 must live within a 90-minute radius, which is easy to do when you can uproot a youngster from his home country and place him within the catchment area. Added to that, the financial terms can be at least five times the size of that on offer from their home club.

Basically, in Italy you have to be 18 to sign a fully professional contract, whereas in England, they can offer you one years before. And that means the players can be earning big money even before they can get a US driver’s license. All England has to do is promise the young Italian a decent amount of money and fly him within an hour and a half radius of the stadium, and they’re golden. Few young footy players would delay starting their careers, and why turn down a shout from Man U?

Another reason why so many leave the shores of Italy is that Italian clubs generally wait longer to start younger players. So whereas Fabregas and half of Aston Villa debuted in their late teens, guys like Giovinco and Marchisio are only now playing for Juve in their early 20s. Juve are hardly the only offenders, as nearly even club in Italy does that, with few exceptions. Italian clubs generally place experience over youth, a move that’s now coming back to haunt them.

The bigger problem here is that it’s taking away players from clubs in the peninsula. Lotito describes it like this:

“We tried in every way to stop Manchester United from taking away our player but the present Italian regulations don’t give you any type of defence. In reality we find ourselves in front of a proper cattle market.”

Basically, the Italian rules just suck. England’s rules allow for players to be signed at a younger age, and at the present, there’s nothing anyone in Italy can do unless the rules are changed. And if I were the FIGC, I’d be working on changing the rules to match those of England. It’s a shame to watch guys like Rossi, Petrucci, and Macheda get snapped up before they can even prove themselves here.

Tags: England, giovinco, Group E, Italy, Juve, Lazio, Lotito, Macheda, Man U, Petrucci, Roma, Rossi

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Comments

Displaying the most recent 25 comments from a total of 47 comments.

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By kqql | April 18th, 2009 at 3:56 pm

^^^

Why Italy are Losing Youth to English Teams

Because coaches like Ranieri are MORONS !

By Marco | April 18th, 2009 at 4:08 pm

Again I call that Coaches like Ranieri be removed from Serie A forever. A coach as dumb as him should never coach a team with the caliber of Juventus. I seem to be on repeat because I have been calling for his dismissal all season. Surely this will be the final nail in his coffin with Juve.

I continue to repeat, players with the age and attitude of Del piero should come off the bench to help his team at the 80th minute, players with the quality and age of Giovinco need to be playing all the time.

By Marco | April 18th, 2009 at 4:11 pm

Also what we saw from Ranieri is happening all over the place in Italian Soccer. It’s happening on the very micro level with mid-table teams to the very macro level on Lippi’s disgusting national team. There are only a few coaches and teams getting it right. This is a complete disaster considering how well our Youth actually are.

It’s scary how a coach like Mourinho on a team like Inter is actually playing Balotelli and Santon (although he didnt play today) he is getting it right for the most part. Next year Balotelli is going to be a fixture on this team, playing all the time and scoring more than a hooker on friday night. While Giovinco, who is older than Messi will still need help gaining confidence. unbelievable. Giovinco needs to leave italy now if he is going to be what he should have been 2 years ago. This kid isn’t being developed properly.

By alessio | April 18th, 2009 at 5:20 pm

People said that about 4-5 years ago about Del Piero and Miccoli…if you were at Juventus, Del Piero would be playing for Genoa right now.

Posted from Spain

By Armando | April 18th, 2009 at 8:49 pm

Again, who said we’re losing youth to English teams, or Spanish teams or German teams or anything. We’re not. So two or three italian youths arent playing in Italy compared to dozens who are. Why is it such a big deal? Simply put, even if he stays in England, let him, and the Azzurri dont need him, and one loss wont mean the end of the world. Look at the team that the Azzurri could have in 2014, even without him:

Keepers: Buffon, Amelia, Curci.

Defenders: Motta, Maggio, Criscito, Chiellini, Santacroce, P. Cannavaro, Ariaudo, Santon, and Abate.

Midfielders: Marchisio, De Rossi, Di Gennaro, Aquilani, Foggia, Montolivo, Pepe, and De Ceglie.

Trequartistas: Cassano, Giovinco, and Rosina.

Strikers: Rossi, Pazzini, Balotelli, Acquafresca, and Osvaldo.

With a squad like this, do you think Macheda would really be that much of an impact? He damn sure wouldnt be a starter, with Rossi, Pazzini, etc in the lineup.

By kqql | April 19th, 2009 at 12:02 am

Paloschi Goal #9 for the 08/09 Season @ Parma

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lwjiJv4UDFw

By aquamarino | April 19th, 2009 at 6:01 am

sorry to say this guys, clubs like ACMilan,Juventus and others in persisting with 33 plus players and offloadong talents like Paloschi and other teenagers are contributing to the down fall of Italian football..guys like del piero r finished i mean they can play at a high tempo only for about 2o minutes but robbing poor Giovinco of a place is a death knell not only for club but also for the national team..Football has become more physical, it is well and definately makes sense to introduce young talents, Lippi has lost it all by making statement that we cant expect any whole sale changes in his squad..i wont be surprised if Italia scrape thrugh the qualifiers( they may even fail in Ireland and have to play 2nd place play offs9 but in the world cup, i dont give Azzurri much hope, the best achievement for this stale, slow, weak team will be a second round..Buffon has carried the team single handedly but now a days, even he looks ordinary, very sad..Casillas, Julio Caesaer, Reina, Cech are miles ahead of Gigi..I cant see Azzurri even compete against physical teams like Australia, or even USA can beat the shittt outta azzurri with fast physical players like Altidore and the rest…No way this stale Azzurri will be able to compete(forget about winning) against brazil, england, spain, france, holland, germany, argentina..azzurri is finished by its own adminstartors , national coach and club coaches in serie A who feild 30 plus and block youth talent

Posted from Spain

By aquamarino | April 19th, 2009 at 6:03 am

totally kick out spent forces like del piero and other 34 plus

Posted from Spain

By Julian | April 19th, 2009 at 10:14 am

“Again, who said we’re losing youth to English teams, or Spanish teams or German teams or anything. We’re not. So two or three italian youths arent playing in Italy compared to dozens who are.”

Err… this article isn’t about why players shouldn’t play overseas. It’s about how poor laws allow English clubs to sign Italian youngsters at cut throat prices in their low teens, whereas Italian teams can’t until they’re 18.

Posted from United States

By Alex | April 19th, 2009 at 10:39 am

I also think that Giovinco ought to leave, preferably for Spain. They would kick the crap out of him in England.

By kqql | April 19th, 2009 at 12:21 pm

Julian “I’m not quite sure that he’s the next Baggio, but if he’s going to prove himself on the international stage

Did his impression of the infamous P.k miss vs. Valladolid today.

By Armando | April 19th, 2009 at 9:29 pm

To Julian –

So English teams are allowed to sign them when theyre below 18 and Italian teams arent? I didnt know that. That’s pretty unfair, but still, unless it really hurts Serie A, i dont think it’s that big of a deal, it’s just Macheda, so far at least, though i would be mad if this keeps happenning.

By matt | April 19th, 2009 at 9:31 pm

hey aquamarino never talk shit bout Gigi, hes miles ahead of Casillas, Julio Caesaer, Reina, and Cech. He’s always the most consistent azzurri performer. And he always will be. Period. As long as Italy have the Big Buff in net they are always serious contenders for any tournament.

Posted from Canada

By kqql | April 20th, 2009 at 4:58 pm

United failed with Santon swoop
Inter reveal previous interest
http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11667_5170801,00.html

Posted from United States

By MAD | April 20th, 2009 at 7:16 pm

“United failed with Santon swoop
Inter reveal previous interest”

They aren’t going to get players from Inter. Those players know that if they make to our senior squad that they will get paid more at 18 than United or any british team would possibly pay at 16.

That’s why the british are taking the kids from Parma, Roma and Lazio. Those clubs won’t pay players a whole lot even if the players make it to the senior squad. That’s why UEFA should step in and say all the clubs have the same age limit.

That, or the british clubs should reach down and find a pair and act like men. Pay the parent club for the players like everyone else – like they would want clubs to do when they have players who want to leave.

But we all know that the british clubs (like british men) lack class and balls so THAT’S not going to happen…

By kqql | April 21st, 2009 at 4:04 pm

Juve should buy him, they use a 4-4-2 formation and he would be perfect replacement for Camo.

Coach Carlo Ancelotti Rules Out Ignazio Abate Return
Abate’s hopes of returning to Milan have been dashed as Ancelotti closes the door on him…

“Abate has improved plenty, but a winger like him would not fit into our tactical system,” Ancelotti told Tuttomercatoweb.com.

[url]http://goal.com/en/news/10/italy/2009/04/20/1219442/milan-coach-carlo-ancelotti-rules-out-ignazio-abate-move

Posted from United States

By alessio | April 22nd, 2009 at 7:47 am

I’d take him. Cross-town switch would do him some good.

Posted from Spain

By James | April 22nd, 2009 at 10:46 pm

Italian football is guilty of the following . . . . 1st: We develop the talent only for the Technical Director of any respective squad (domestically) to leave it fallow &/or loaned out idlying their time in lower divisions; or, in the case of Petrucci (AS Roma), Macheda (SS Lazio) et. al, they are simply poached by clubs that have the money but more importantly will give them the opportunity to play at the top level; or even worse yet, the player is not given space and they either have to ply their trade in another league (Rossi) or they evaporate all together.
2nd: Besides Inter, AC Milan and Juve, there are no other Teams that can compete on the same playing field financially (domestically); let alone when interest comes in from England, Spain, and even Germany. If these two pronged problems do not change any time soon . . . this will rear it’s head on gli nazionale, and Italian Football in Europe. I would have to concur with the previous statement that it may already have with Lippi . . .

Posted from United States

By Daddio | April 23rd, 2009 at 2:32 am

Don’t be alarmed. The young Italian teams are coming to save us. Oops. We just lost 5-0 to Germany and it should have been 10-0!

By Alex | April 23rd, 2009 at 11:01 am

^ This was just a test for different players prior to the U20 World Cup. Not a big deal. Besides, I could care less about the U20 World Cup — it’s the Euro U17 and the Euro U21 that we should be worried about.

By 9 champs leagues | April 24th, 2009 at 5:52 am

atleast there is some great news for Italian football..
ITALIAN JUVENTUS..
Quagliarella is all but snapped up by Juve, strangely, from the azzurri point of veiw, Canna´s transfer and combo with Chiellini would benifit us in 2010..if Cassano is signed, then he will be in the 2010 squad which is excellent news….imagine a forward line of 3 consisting of Quagliarella, Amauri and Iaquinta..It will be the best in Europe..then most of the players from Juve will be in the national team…
quags, Iaquinta, Amauri<8if selected<9, Gio<8 if selected), Cassano, Marchisio, canna, chiellini….

Posted from Spain

By 9 champs leagues | April 24th, 2009 at 7:42 am

iam really surprised that no italian team is considering Guiseppe Rossi, now that it is almost certain that Villareal will miss out on CL next season, Rossi must be brought to Italia maybe Milan should buy him..It was shocking to read yesterday that Milan is considering tRezeguet..what is wrong with this great club??r they opening a retirement home??if they had a little bit of common sense, they should sign Rossi, bring Paloschi back and offload Emerson, Beckham and others..i mean it is sad to see Milan now a days..what happened to all the money they won in Europe( CL wins?????)

By FORZAFRANKIE | May 12th, 2009 at 4:20 pm

I agree. These Italian clubs need to bring our boys back home! I am sick of exporting talent and having the other leagues we compete against on a euro club level, benefit from it. While our teams at home sign aging outsiders! Why is Juve interested in Diego and not Rossi? Or let alone the phenom sitting on their bench. This is so frustrating!

Posted from United States

By John Nitti | May 21st, 2009 at 10:17 pm

Italy has always kept most of their talents home, that’s one of the reasons the national team has shared a good understanding among each other. Now many old stars are past their best and its a new era and lippi, just as domenech are assessing a new winning squad and its not easy to complete in the short run. Spain has also kept most of their talents home in the past and they didnt manage to make it far enough, and ironically enough, now that many spaniards are playing in the premier, they finally have built a solid team. Is keeping your talents home the real key to success?

By 9 Champion Leagues | May 21st, 2009 at 10:18 pm

hahaha facts are facts are facts…spain will never win a WC, italy is inherently superior.

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