QPR clinch deal for Macheda

QPR have completed the loan signing of striker Kiko Macheda.

Macheda has joined QPR on loan until the end of the season.

"There is a lot of competition at Manchester United, there are some very good strikers there," Macheda told QPR's website.

"But I am still young and I need to get more experience in the Premier League.

"I am here to train hard firstly and then I hope to play a big part in the games.

"I was attracted by the challenge and by the players that QPR brought in during the summer," he said.

"There are some very big players at the club now and I am really looking forward to training and playing with them.

"I also know the fans are very, very passionate, and this interested me also."

Macheda revealed Rio Ferdinand - brother of Rs defender Anton - advised him to link up with Neil Warnock's side.

"I spoke with Rio and he told me that QPR is a very good club and that if I did come here it would be good for me and would help me to develop as a player," he said.

"I am looking forward to this challenge.

"Now I want to work hard for the team and for the fans."

QPR set to sign Macheda on loan

QPR look likely to beat Wigan to a loan deal for striker Federico Macheda.

Macheda’s representative, Giovanni Bia said: ‘There was nothing concrete with Wigan. The club closer to Macheda is QPR. I think at 95 per cent that Macheda will go to London, because he needs to play, and this is the only suggestion of a transfer to date.

'He’ll go on a simple loan for six months, because Sir Alex Ferguson believes in him and wants to take him back to United at the end of the season. The other five per cent of chance is that Macheda stays in Manchester.’ 

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.

Macheda will only join Lazio in Italy

 Kiko Macheda says he'd prefer to remain in England if he is to leave on-loan next month.

Macheda is interesting Wigan Athletic.

And he told lalaziosiamonoi.it: "Now I do not feel right to return to Italy because my time at Samp went very badly, even at the level of adaptation was very hard.

"Then the team was not right, so it is hard to think of returning to Italy in January, instead to remain in England to play a little more here.

"Now the only team that I would go in Italy to is Lazio."

Macheda branded having worst taste in music at Man Utd

Kiko Macheda has the worst taste in music inside the Manchester United locker room, according to Rio Ferdinand.

Ferdinand doesn't share the musical tastes of all his teammates, so who has the worst?

Ferdinand told The Sun: "It used to be Ole Gunnar Solskjaer but Kiko Macheda is the king now. Even with the big headphones you can still hear what people are listening to and I heard some weird techno blasting out from his the other day."

United striker Macheda set to join Wigan on loan

Wigan are hoping to take Manchester United striker Federico Macheda on loan. 

Sportsmail revealed manager Roberto Martinez’s interest last month but United’s run of injuries left Sir Alex Ferguson unwilling to release the 20-year-old Italian.

However, Dimitar Berbatov’s return to action and the emergence of Will Keane could enable the deal to go through on January 1. 

Macheda’s agent Giovani Ba revealed he spoke to the United boss last week and expects the loan deal to be approved.

Agent admits Man Utd exit likely for Macheda

The agent of striker Kiko Macheda admits a move away is likely in January.

Giovanni Bia says he's already spoken to United manager Sir Alex Ferguson about Macheda's lack of first team action this season.

"I spoke last week with Ferguson: I think that Federico will play somewhere else," he told Sportal.it. "He can no longer continue to be on the field for only a quarter of an hour or twenty minutes, it is vital to find more space.

"The demand is there, but only from abroad. In the first week of January we will evaluate the proposals that we receive. Macheda's departure, however, has nothing to do with the elimination of United from the Champions League."

Ferguson says Macheda, Diouf set for loan

 Sir Alex Ferguson says his young strikers are likely to go out on-loan in January.

Ferguson blamed the Palace defeat of United's second-string side on the lack of competitive football that his young players have had, and said he may send Federico Macheda and Mame Biram Diouf out on loan in January.

He said: "The problem is the type of reserve league we have now, it's really a youth league, and that is a big problem.

"It [the defeat] bothers me in the sense that the level of training we do was let down.

"For us it was Rafael's first game, Darron Gibson's first game, Mame Diouf's only played four games this season, Macheda only his third game. That's not enough football to play in the quarter-final of a League Cup I'm afraid. That caught us and I was surprised of the level of fitness of Crystal Palace against us.

"In terms of match play we were certainly short."

Asked about the players going out on loan he added: "It works well for all young players to get game time and that's what we are looking at for Macheda and Diouf, they need game time, there is no question about that. Every young players wants to play and we have to give them that opportunity."

QPR seek loan deal for Macheda

QPR boss Neil Warnock is eyeing Manchester United striker Kiko Macheda.

The Daily Star says Warnock is plotting a January swoop to get Manchester United striker Macheda on loan for QPR.

Macheda has struggled for first team action at United this season.

Man Utd rejected Wolves approach for Macheda loan

Wolves boss Mick McCarthy moved for Manchester United striker Kiko Macheda last week.

The Express & Star says McCarthy attempted to strengthen his attack before last week’s cut-off by enquiring about taking Manchester United striker Macheda on loan.

But United boss Sir Alex Ferguson wanted the 20-year-old Italian to go somewhere where he would be guaranteed regular first-team football, something Wolves could not promise.

Wolves also considered a move for 6ft 3ins Daryl Murphy but the gangly striker, who has a year left on his contract at Celtic, instead joined Ipswich on loan.

Newcastle & QPR chasing loan signature of striker Federico Macheda

Federico Macheda is poised to join a Premier League side on loan to gain top-flight experience, according to the player’s agent, with a return to Italy ruled out.

The Italian under-21 international’s representative Giovanni Bia has revealed Newcastle are leading the race to sign him on a temporary basis, although QPR are also interested.

Red Devils' boss Sir Alex Ferguson previously stated his intention to keep all his forwards at the club, but now appears willing to let the 20-year-old leave to get first-team action.

"Macheda doesn't return to Italy, Manchester United will send him on loan in the Premier League," the agent told calciomercato.com.

"At this time Newcastle has the edge over Queens Park Rangers."

Macheda burst on to the scene scoring a dramatic winner on his debut three seasons back to send United to the top of the table, but has since failed to establish himself and spent the second half of last season on loan to Sampdoria.

He currently finds himself behind Wayne Rooney, Javier Hernandez, Danny Welbeck, Dimitar Berbatov and Michael Owen.

Both Newcastle and QPR find themselves short of options up front and it appears that both clubs see Macheda as a useful addition to their squads.

Agent expects Macheda to remain with Manchester United this campaign

Federico Macheda spent the second half of last season on loan at Sampdoria but struggled to make an impact at the Serie A side, failing to score in 13 appearances, while the club were relegated.

Despite the 19-year-old facing fierce competition for a spot in Sir Alex Ferguson's first-team, with Wayne Rooney and Javier Hernandez already established as the manager's preferred partnership up front, a return to Italy is not on the cards.

The 19 year old has already voiced his desire to remain at Old Trafford this season and fight for a place in Ferguson's line-up.

His agent, Giovanni Bia told direttanews: "Federico is in Manchester and is very well in England. I rule out a return to Italy."

Strikers are causing Sir Alex a headache

Sir Alex Ferguson has acknowledged he will have a tough job giving all his strikers adequate time on the pitch this season.

With Federico Macheda and Danny Welbeck returning from loan spells away from Old Trafford, Michael Owen retained after signing a one-year contract extension and the partnership of Wayne Rooney and Javier Hernandez proving potent enough to keep the joint Golden Boot winner, Dimitar Berbatov, out of the side for the big games towards the end of the campaign, Ferguson has a six-strong battery of frontmen.

Given such numbers, it would be no surprise if Ferguson utilised the loan system once more, or even sold Berbatov - as looked likely when he did not even make the bench for May's Champions League final defeat to Barcelona at Wembley.

For now, Ferguson has to try to squeeze them all in.

Hernandez's absence from the opening section of United's five-match United States tour is a help.

It will not be long before the Mexican returns, though. And then the problems begin.

'The problem for all the strikers last year was that the form of Hernandez was just too good,' said Ferguson.

'We couldn't leave him out, which caused a headache for me.

'I am going to be picking from six strikers, which isn't a bad thing but sometimes that can be a confusing aspect of team choices.'

After a goalless first half, United cut loose immediately after the break, belting four past a New England Revolution outfit that were unable to cope with their visitors' attacking prowess despite them boasting superior fitness levels.

Owen broke the deadlock with a stylish finish before Macheda bagged two, indicating a difficult six months at Sampdoria has not left a scar.

'Macheda's finishes were first class," said Ferguson.

'He is special. At 19 years of age, we still have great hopes for him.'

And the Italian teenage is pleased to be back among friends at Old Trafford after admitting that he did not enjoy his spell in his homeland.

Macheda believes he has grown up in his time away from United and is keen to fight for his place with the Barclays Premier League champions.

'I am very happy because I had a difficult six months,' said Macheda.

'I am not scarred by it, you learn a lot from bad experiences.

'I grew up as a man. I have another mentality now.

'When you leave Manchester United, go somewhere else and come back, you realise how different it all is.

'It is better to work really hard and I hope to stay here.'

Macheda drops big Sneijder signing hint

Kiko Macheda may have let slip a deal is all but done for Inter Milan star Wesley Sneijder.

Sneijder is the subject of intense interest from United this week.

Italian Macheda tweeted: “Time to sleep before training...hope to see wesley snejeder [sic] here soon!”

He later added “can I not say that?” before deleting both tweets.

Ferguson plans crunch talks with fringe players this week

Sir Alex Ferguson is set to hold crunch talks with his fringe players this week.

The News of the World says Federico Macheda, Wes Brown, Darron Gibson, Jonny Evans and Tom Cleverley will all be told where they stand by the Manchester United chief.

Italian striker Macheda spent a frustrating six months on loan at Sampdoria last season but wants to fight for his place at Old Trafford.

The teenager failed to score in Serie A and it is believed United would either be open to offers or may again loan him out, preferably in England.

Brown, Gibson and Evans are all expected to be told they are up for sale, which could add £15million to Fergie's transfer budget.

But Cleverley is poised to be drafted into the first-team squad.

Aston Villa keen on striker Macheda

Aston Villa boss Alex McLeish is eyeing striker Kiko Macheda.

The People says Sir Alex, Big Eck’s former boss at Aberdeen, was a major supporter of his fellow Scot’s move to Villa from Birmingham – and that friendship could help McLeish land United striker Macheda.

McLeish needs to replace Ashley Young, John Carew and Nigel Reo-Coker with Old Trafford striker Macheda a possibility.

Agent admits Macheda has struggled at Sampdoria

The agent of striker Kiko Macheda admits he's found his loan at Sampdoria difficult.

The Under-21 international joined Sampdoria on loan from Man Utd in January, but he’s found life tough.

“He played well at the start, then he was perhaps caught up in the vortex for survival,” Giovanni Bia told TMW.

“If even the older players couldn’t raise Sampdoria then a 20-year-old boy certainly wasn’t going to be able to do that.

“There is too much pressure and criticism in the Italian game and I think the player himself has been left disappointed by all of it.

“Although he settled well into the city, perhaps he rushed his return to Italy given that the game has different pressures here than in England.”

Sampdoria are currently in the bottom three, two points away from survival with just two matches remaining.

“I don’t know what will happen with Macheda next season, I’ll have to talk to Man Utd,” Bia added.

“Staying at Sampdoria could turn out to be a useful experience for him, even if they were playing in Serie B next term. However, it’s too early to say at the minute.”

Sampdoria sound out Man Utd about Macheda and West Brom ahead of Wigan for Kuszczak

Kiko Macheda could be on his way from Man Utd in the summer.

The Italy U21 striker has struggled to make an impact at Sampdoria since his January loan move.

And the News of the World says Macheda could be sold by United manager Sir Alex during the close-season transfer window.

Sampdoria are keen to discuss a permanent deal for the ex-Lazio striker, with United rating him in the £7 million class.

Meanwhile,Tomasz Kuszczak is set to re-sign with West Bromwich Albion.

The Polish goalkeeper, who joined United from the Baggies in August 2006, will jump at the chance of going back on a free transfer, says theMirror.

Kuszczak, 29, has been unable to push Edwin van der Sar out of the No.1 spot - and is resigned to the fact that Sir Alex will bring in a top-class replacement when the Dutchman retires this summer.

So the experienced United reserve has decided to move on and West Brom boss Roy Hodgson has teed up a deal – with the hint that he could squeeze ahead of Scott Carson and become the Baggies' first choice.

Wigan Athletic are also interested in Kuszczak but would rather keep Ali Al- Habsi, who is on loan from Bolton.

Macheda loves Premier League so much more than Serie A and Ferguson wants him back!

Kiko Macheda insists he will be returning to Manchester United in the summer.

The Italy U21 striker has endured a difficult loan at struggling Sampdoria in Serie A.

"I don't know why it hasn't worked for me at Sampdoria, perhaps people expected that I would replace Cassano," said Macheda. "But I'm not Cassano, I am Macheda.

"And the Italian football, the tactics, is different to the English. I prefer the English, more physical and faster.

"The chief scout from United does come to Italy to watch me play."

Sir Alex Ferguson insists Kiko Macheda has a big future at Old Trafford.

Macheda was farmed out on-loan to Sampdoria in January, where he has struggled for form since his arrival.

Ferguson insisted: "I speak to Macheda by phone. In June, I want him back.

"He is a natural scorer."

Macheda may return to Man Utd ahead of schedule from Sampdoria

Kiko Macheda could return to Manchester United early from his loan at Sampdoria.

The sacking of Mimmo di Carlo has cast doubt on Macheda's future in Genova.

Di Carlo has since been axed by the club, who have lost six out of their past nine games.

The Italian was instrumental in persuading Macheda to leave United on loan until the end of season and the rookie striker had claimed Di Carlo was one of the main reasons in his decision to move to Sampdoria.