Thursday 15 December 2016 09:49, UK
Federico Macheda has revealed he recently received an encouraging phone call from his former Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson as he attempts to get his career back on track.
Following a disappointing spell with Cardiff City, the striker has returned to his native to Italy where he has signed a one-year contract with Serie B outfit Novara, with the option for a one-year extension.
Macheda had been without a club since being released by the Bluebirds in August after managing just eight goals in 33 appearances during his two years at Cardiff City Stadium.
Speaking about his new move on Facebook, Macheda said: "This will be a new beginning for me. I will take what has happened in the past with me but now only the present counts and the future.
"My goal is to do well from the start; I will have a couple of weeks when I will make a mini preparation to ensure my condition is optimal. My goal is to jump right in the squad."
It marks a low point in a professional career which began in spectacular fashion for Macheda when, at the age of just 17, he scored a dramatic injury-time winner against Aston Villa at Old Trafford during United's title-winning season in 2008/09.
Despite his early promise, he failed to make the grade at United and was loaned to Sampdoria, Queens Park Rangers, Vfb Stuttgart, Doncaster Rovers and Birmingham City before joining Cardiff City.
But, even though Ferguson has now retired as United boss and Macheda is no longer at the club, that does not mean the Scot does not follow the progress of his former charges with a keen eye, as the 25-year-old Italian explained.
Macheda continued: "Sir Alex Ferguson is a great person and has taught me so much. He called me three weeks ago to see how I was and how my career is going. He coached the greatest players in history, and the fact that he thinks about me makes me proud.
"When I was little I watched [Zlatan] Ibrahimovic. He was the striker who showed me the most important things. I played with many stars, like [Wayne] Rooney, [Carlos] Tevez, [Dimitar] Berbatov and training with them every day, you can always learn something and this made me better."
