Macheda Returns to the Peninsula: Sampdoria, Pazzini, and Prandelli Take Note

January 6th, 2011 | by: Julian | Comments Off

Federico Macheda burst onto the scene two years ago for Manchester United, playing an important role as a supersub to lead the club to a Premiere League title. His goal against Aston Villa showed how much skill and promise the young 17 year old had, and in his first appearance for the club, showed just what Lazio fans had missed out on:

Nearly two years on, however, and Macheda’s playing time at the club has become restricted. Wayne Rooney and Dimitar Berbatov are the two regular strikers at the club, and even newcomer Chicharito seems to have a higher spot in the pecking order than the Italian. In order to grow as a player, he’s returned to Italy on loan with Sampdoria, with an eye to returning to Manchester United as a more complete player. One who firmly establishes himself in the first team:

“Cassano is a champion, an outstanding player. I have to prove everything. It’s the first time that I’ll be measuring myself in Serie A. Here you play a very tactical kind of football, but I have no fear. However, Cassano and I are players with very different characteristics. I will try and make you not regret him, this I promise.

I know that there is a lot of expectation around me, but the responsibility doesn’t frighten me. If you don’t play, you don’t grow and I want to do that in a hurry. I’ll work to the maximum.

Asked why he chose Sampdoria over Lazio, Macheda replied: “Sampdoria were the team who really came looking for me. There was never anything concrete with Lazio. I need to play with continuity and I consider this to be the best decision, but no one has guaranteed me a place. I will have to earn it.

“There was too much competition at Manchester United. Ferguson is a maestro, the best Coach in the world and I am sorry to leave him even for a brief period, but he also encouraged me to have this new experience. I will return to Manchester an even stronger player.”

He’s ambitious but also seems to have a head on his shoulders. He knows that he’s effectively going to Sampdoria to replace the departed Cassano, but is a totally different player to the new AC Milan player. Not a play-maker by any means, he’s more of a creative striker, and it’ll be interesting to see if he can gel with Pazzini on the team- and who will supply the two with the type of passes that Cassano would’ve been able to supply.

Nevertheless, the loan move was smart. Sampdoria wanted him, he isn’t needed at Man U, and if he wants any chance of breaking into Prandelli’s Meritocracy, he simply must play. He’ll surely start on Sampdoria, and he and Pazzini could form the attacking duo of the season. He’s surely one to keep an eye on, until June and beyond.