Lazio chief calls for change

Lazio president Claudio Lotito has called for the Italian FA to make changes to the rules regarding home-grown players to halt an exodus of youngsters from moving abroad. The Lazio chief was speaking after one of the club's former starlets Federico Macheda marked his Manchester United debut with a stunning last-gasp winner against Aston Villa on Sunday.The 17-year-old left Lazio in September 2007 after coming through the ranks of the Italian club's youth system and the Lazio president is still bitter about the transfer.Lotito is adamant that new rules need to be put in place to protect the clubs who produce home-grown players from losing out when they get older.At present Italian clubs are not allowed to tie youngsters to professional contracts until the age of 18 whereas in England the age is 16."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," he said.Cattle market"In reality we find ourselves in front of a proper cattle market. I talked repeatedly with Macheda's parents, we established a dialogue, but it was not possible to do anything."We could not compete with United's offer."That is not right, we have to be provided with more reliable and concrete rules than those which govern Italian clubs." Meanwhile Macheda's agent Giovanni Bia claimed that his client was still fond of Rome but added that moving to United was the right choice."Rome will always be in his heart," he told Sky Italia."He is smart, he knows what he wants and he has clear-cut ideas. At the age of 16 he left everything and that isn't easy."Now however it starts getting difficult, he has to understand that he has not done anything at all yet. Luckily at United he is very protected."

Source: SKY_Sports