Where Federico Macheda is now as Man Utd hero compared to two current stars

11 February 2024 , 06:00

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Federico Macheda is still scoring goals in Europe (Image: MKE Ankaragucu)

Manchester United have come from behind to level the scores at home to Aston Villa.

The scoreline reads 2-2 and the Stretford End is baying for a late winner. Up steps a young striker, one without a single Premier League goal to his name. Now choose your hero: Rasmus Hojlund or Federico Macheda.

Macheda's winner in April 2009, a skilful swivelling strike assisted by Ryan Giggs which flew past sprawling Villa goalkeeper Brad Friedel, is among of the most memorable late goals in Premier League history. The 17-year-old substitute incredibly marked his United debut with a 93rd-minute winner to steer Sir Alex Ferguson's side back on course for their third successive English title.

As for Hojlund, his lethal strike to make it 3-2 at Old Trafford this past Boxing Day isn't quite as iconic, but the emotional outpour was a close similarity. Having bagged five strikes in six Champions League games, United's £72million signing from Atalanta agonisingly had to wait until his 15th top-flight appearance to finally score a goal, and he's now on a run of four goals in as many matches.

That takes Hojlund just one shy of Macheda's overall tally for Premier League goals, as although he followed up his debut heroics with another winner the very next weekend away to Sunderland, his Red Devils career fizzled out.

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Hojlund's time at Old Trafford doesn't appear to be going that way, though. Nor does that of midfield starlet and academy graduate Kobbie Mainoo, who also marked his breakthrough at United with a stunning added-time winner away to Wolves last Thursday; a mazy solo goal as opposed to Macheda's and Hojlund's sharp turns and emphatic finishes.

So, what's Macheda up to now?

Federico Macheda scored one of Manchester United's most famous Premier League game-winning goals (Getty Images)

Having left Old Trafford permanently in 2014 following a spate of misfiring loan spells, Macheda spent the next two years playing in the Championship with Cardiff and Nottingham Forest. Then home came calling, as in 2016 the Lazio academy product signed for Italian side Novara and bagged 11 goals across 52 appearances in another two-year stint.

Next would be his longest stay at a club since his youth, as Macheda joined Panathinaikos and played for the Greek side for the next four seasons. His record of 40 goals in 116 games proved his innate goalscoring ability which Sir Alex Ferguson praised 15 years ago, having brought him to the club aged 17 in August 2008.

"Macheda has got something special about him, the boy," Ferguson remarked after the Italian's ice-cool finish up at Sunderland. "He side-footed it as it came to him. It's that quick-thinking that goalscorers have got. He wasn't fazed by anything."

Your turn! Is Federico Macheda's debut the best in Manchester United history? Give us your pick in the comments section.

Federico Macheda looked to be the next big thing during his breakthrough in 2009

Judging by his career path, Macheda also isn't fazed on playing in front of intense crowds. His next stop came in 2022 when he joined newly-promoted Turkish outfit Ankaragucu. The former Italy youth international only scored once prior to the January transfer window, however, prompting a loan move to Apoel in Nicosia, Cyprus.

Macheda only scored twice but after returning to the Turkish capital, this season has been better for the now 32-year-old. On Tuesday, he bagged his fourth goal of the campaign in a 5-1 cup victory over second-tier Erzincanspor.

That game was a rare start for the Rome-born striker, with the Ankara-based side currently sitting 11th out of 20 in the Turkish Super Lig. His contract is due to expire this summer, so perhaps Macheda will be on the move again.

Rasmus Hojlund scored a late winner the last time Manchester United faced Aston Villa (Simon Stacpoole/Offside/Offside via Getty Images)

18-year-old midfielder Kobbie Mainoo has also demonstrated his ability to grab a winner in added time (Naomi Baker/Getty Images)

Despite not living up to his early potential as a dynamic and physically imposing finisher, 'Kiko' will always have a place in United folklore. He has one regret, though, and if Macheda could turn back time, he might still be leading the line for the Red Devils to this day.

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"I have regrets about not keeping working hard as before I got into the first team," he told the Vibe with FIVE podcast. "When I got to the first-team, for me everything was amazing.

"But when you do well, your concentration drops. That doesn't allow you to keep working for something bigger, that was what was the missing thing for me - I didn't work for the next bigger thing at my time at Manchester United.

"If that is one regret I have it is this one because I should have done a lot more with the chances I had with the first-team when I had ten minutes, 20 minutes, 30 minutes or starts because I had a lot of them. For an 18-year-old it is not normal.

"I knew I was very good physically, my character was confident but I had to keep going in terms of wanting more. I was enjoying this moment yes too much but I didn't think it was easy because after those games [against Villa and Sunderland], I didn't have the chance to play every week."

Hojlund and Mainoo - 21 and 18 respectively - don't have the same issue, as they've become nailed-on starters. The pair are expected to line up at Villa Park on Sunday, coincidently where Macheda netted another of his late goals in a United shirt.

Nathan Ridley