FEDERICO MACHEDA: CLUB CAREER PATH REVEALED

Italian striker Federico Macheda is a classic example of a football journeyman having played for ten clubs professionally but he has been able to enjoy a stable club career at Panathinaikos in the Greek top flight. He has been performing well for Panathinaikos since signing for them in 2018. Federico Macheda started his career in the Lazio Academy before he was signed by Premier League giants Manchester United in 2007.

He spent the majority of his debut season at Manchester United with the club’s academy before he made his first team bow to good effect towards the end of that season. He wrote his name in lights when he came off the bench to rescue Manchester United against Aston Villa at home in the Premier League. Federico Macheda scored the winning goal in a 3-2 win and that victory was  crucial to Manchester United winning the league title that season ahead of arch rivals Liverpool.

Federico Macheda was seen as the golden boy after that heroics but he was unable to live up to the name on the pitch. During his time at Manchester United from 2008 to 2014, Federico Macheda was sent on loan six times to five teams. The Italian striker was sent on loan to Sampdoriain his native Italy in 2011 before he went on loan to London club Queens Park Rangers (QPR) in 2012. He was at VfB Stuttgart of Germany on a loan deal in 2013 and was also on loan twice at lower league English team Doncaster Rovers in 2013 and for the 2013/14 season. Federico Machedawas last sent on loan to Birmingham City as a Manchester United player in 2014.

Federico Macheda signed for Cardiff City in the summer of 2014 after leaving Manchester United on a free transfer. He was sent on his final loan till date at Cardiff City. Macheda signed for Nottingham Forest on loan from Cardiff City in 2016. He went on to play for Italian team Novara from 2016 to 2018 after he left Welsh club Cardiff City by mutual consent. He signed for current team Panathinaikos on a free transfer in 2018. The 29-year-old Italian signed a three-year deal until this summer.