Where is kiko macheda

Old Trafford had erupted. And Federico Macheda had gone from relative unknown to Manchester United cult hero in the space of 24 hours. As Liverpool had convincingly beaten Blackburn earlier, United needed a win to return to the summit of the Barclays Premier League table. On came Macheda on 75 minutes in place of Dimitar Berbatov. It was extraordinary how the 17 year old Italian had played in total just over 45 minutes of Professional league club football for the biggest club in the world, and he had managed to score 2 goals and gain 6 points for them already.

With mostly ineffective and underwhelming performances, many feel that the fame and limelight coming with the nature of his introduction into professional football got to his head. Of course, being thrust into stardom at 17 years old would take some getting used to for anybody.

Sir Alex Ferguson thought the best thing to do was to send him out on loan in order to get some playing time, and with reports of him feeling homesick too he was loaned to Italian club Sampdoria. Macheda came off the bench in the 2nd half and scored United's 2nd and 3rd goals in a win over New England Revolution. And Macheda, enjoying a loan spell himself with Sampdoria, dispatched the spot-kick with confidence.

Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson believes that striker Federico Macheda is the club's most natural finisher. Macheda grabbed headlines two seasons ago after making an impressive debut as he scored a fine, late winner. But Ferguson rates Macheda highly, with the year-old scoring twice against MLS All-Stars this week, and could be set to utilise his services on a regular basis in the new term. The Scot said: "Macheda is probably the best player going through against the goalkeeper that we have.

When he went through I expected him to score. Of Macheda, midfielder Darren Fletcher said: "He's a natural goalscorer, a finisher in one-on-one situations. He's a big strong lad for his age. I ask you: Are these the worst trunks ever unveiled on a European beach? They are rank. To make matters worse it looks like he's on holiday on a building site, with heavy machinery digging up the beach behind him in the resort of Forte Del Marmi. Macheda set up both Mame Diouf's goals as well as scoring a penalty himself after Corry Evans was fouled in a draw.

Ferguson had the likes of Nani and Giggs to bring on to win the game but instead turned to Macheda. And who are we to argue? Macheda then played the full 90 minutes of the FA Cup semi-final defeat to Everton as he continued to offer plenty of promise. He was accused of complacency at Old Trafford and has since admitted that perhaps he was just happy to be there.

When playing time took a hit, Fergie suggested he went out on loan to an English club, but the forward insisted on going back to Italy. He chose Sampdoria, who had just sold two of their biggest assets in Antonio Cassano and Giampaolo Pazzini, and so the weight on the shoulders of a still teenage Macheda was heavy.

It proved to be too much as he went 14 league games without scoring and was part of the side relegated to Serie B. However, just three games into his stay at Loftus Road he picked up an ankle injury that required an operation, meaning it was back to United.