Macheda has no regrets leaving Lazio for Man Utd as junior player

Kiko Macheda has no regrets over his move to Manchester United.

Macheda, 20, quit Lazio over three years ago to sign for United, but has seen his progress stall in the last 12 months.

"To tell you the truth I do not regret anything, because going to Manchester has helped me a lot," he told lalaziosiamonoi.it/. "If I'd stayed with Lazio, I wouldn't have made my debut at such a young age.

"Also, at the time Lazio's youth team wasn't the best.

"Manchester followed me for two years, while at Lazio I wasn't getting a regular game. I was always on the bench, then came Manchester and it become more serious when I talked to (Sir Alex) Ferguson's brother and all the leaders who made me understand that they had a big project for me."

"In England, the youth sector is completely different from the Italian," he told lalaziosiamonoi.it/. "Here they train all on the same field, Ferguson is always there to see the training of all young players so there is more contact with the first team.

"Manchester in particular is a team that aims particularly on young people and Ferguson is one who is keen to track down the kids and let them know what is needed for them to play in the first team. "

"We had some banter and I complimented them," laughed Macheda when recalling his first meeting with United manager Sir Alex Ferguson to lalaziosiamonoi.it/.

"It was nice, because I arrived a year later and almost the next day there 7-1 signs made up. My parents were there and experienced it. I was not there because I was at Lazio, but they told me."

Macheda has seen some rare first team action in recent games and admits Rooney is in a class of his own.

"Rooney is Rooney. He is the player who has the most goals in the Premier League in the history of Manchester United and is only 25 years of age. I think there are only a few around who can match him," Macheda said.