Manchester United’s Federico Macheda Inching Closer To Sampdoria Loan Move

That “Doh” you just heard came from West Brom and potentially Lazio as Manchester United’s 19 year old striker Federico Macheda looks all set to join Sampdoria on a six month loan which will mark Macheda’s return to Serie A after United purchased the Italian from Lazio in 2007.

Macheda’s agent Giovanni Bia was quoted as saying on The Telegraph that:

“The only thing missing is the formalities. I hope to finish everything by tonight so the player will be available for Sunday”.

When asked whether or not Macheda’s loan spell would be for six months or more, Bia inferred that Macheda would return to United for the start of next season and that a six month spell was likely.

“Then it (loan) will be evaluated with Manchester United and they will need to see if he stays in Italy for another year. It is 99 per cent he would go straight back to Manchester United”.

West Brom’s Roberto Di Matteo had openly expressed interest in bringing Macheda to the Hawthorns for a spell during last season as well as just recently as the 2011January transfer window is now in full swing. For now at least, and likely forever, it seems as if Di Matteo has missed his man as Macheda to Sampdoria is all but completed.

Macheda, upon joining United in 2007, made a name for himself over the course of United’s last title winning season, their triumph of 2008-09. During United’s surge to the top of the table, Macheda scored two incredibly important goals which enabled United to gain three points in close matches.

First at home to Aston Villa, then away to Sunderland, Macheda came off the bench and scored as United were able to complete their third of three successive Premier League title winning seasons. No stranger to Serie A having spent the 2006-07 season with Lazio, Macheda should fit in well at Sampdoria as Antonio Cassano has recently completed his high-profile move to AC Milan.