Source: Telegraph
Manchester United's Federico Macheda hailed a hero by Italian media
"An Italian hero sinks the Villains," reads La Gazzetta dello Sport, Tuttosport calls it a "fairytale" and the front page of Corriere dello Sport insists: "A 17-year-old Italian rescues Manchester United". [LNB]The delight at the discovery of a new hero, though, is tempered by disapproval of Macheda's defection to the Premier League at the age of just 15, when United offered to relocate his whole family to England to secure one of Italy's brightest prospects. [LNB] Related ArticlesUnited serve up late dramaManchester United 3 Aston Villa 2Macheda is United's latest bright sparkItalian with plenty in reservePapers: 'Mach of the Day'Manchester Uniteds Darron Gibson to start against Spurs in Carling Cup finalTuttosport:"How many times the Italian, born in just 1991, who has spent two years in the youth team of the world champions, must have dreamed of this scene. But it's all true...On his debut, Macheda leapt like a lion on every ball, straightaway earning the applause of the Old Trafford crowd." Gazzetta Dello Sport [LNB]Macheda, 17-years old, the former Lazio youth team player and Manchester, once more made in Italy, king of the Premier League. The Roman touched the ball, controlled it, turned and brought about the 3-2 win which beat Aston Villa, overtook Liverpool and broke the Inter affliction, which had seen United lose two in a row since beating the Italian champions. [LNB]Corriere Dello Sport:Macheda began his career in the youth teams of Lazio before discovering his El Dorado. Manchester United, in fact, ripped him from the Rome side in the summer of 2007, when he was just 15. The English club offered a professional contract and proposed that the boy move his whole family to England. Sabatini, the Lazio youth coach at the time, could not stop him gambling the life of his parents, his brother, and choosing Ferguson's proposition. At his home today stands a photo of Macheda, his family, and the United coach. No doubt tomorrow it will be joined by his number 41 shirt, worn on an unforgettable debut. [LNB]La Stampa: He's not 18 until August 22, this latest talent who left the Lazio youth set up when the club's president, Claudio Lotito, didn't care about it. A trequartista who can adapt to playing upfront, United spotted him in 2007 when they had sent a scout to watch a team-mate, but fell in love with Macheda the footballer. After he turned 16, he made the journey to England, convinced by 80,000 Euros a year and a job for his father. [LNB]La Repubblica: Sir Alex implored him to attack space. "They're tired, you're not," he urged. Kiko received the ball in the area and created a masterpiece. Old Trafford in delirium. And all deserved for little Federico, who for one evening will dine as a star, will feel like a star, will talk with everyone, and will want to go over again and again, for infinity, that wonderful double gesture, turning with his heel, the strike with his right foot, the fruit of the imagination. [LNB]
