Premier League - Italian claims United deal

Eurosport - Sat, 04 Jul 16:28:00 2009

Empoli youngster Alberto Massacci has claimed that he has signed for Premier League champions Manchester United.

FOOTBALL Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson, who won the Barclays manager of the year award. United defender Nemanja Vidic won the player of the year award. - 0

The 16-year-old right-back has never figured in the first-team squad of the Serie B side but impressed United's scouts during an international youth team event last year, where he was voted player of the tournament.

"When they called me, I really couldn't believe it," he told Gazzetta dello Sport. "I didn't believe that it was really him (Sir Alex Ferguson pictured) on the phone."

Reports suggest Massacci has already spent three days in Manchester, having a medical, and is set to fly back on Sunday to sign on the dotted line, and the teenager admits he has been left somewhat stunned by it all.

He added: "It was him (Ferguson), and I had an hour-long chat with him, in English. He seemed to me a modest, simple, incredible person.

"Nobody, not him, nor the whole atmosphere, made the pressure of who they are and what they represent in footballing history weigh on my shoulders."

He added: "In life a chance like this only comes past you once, and you've got to grab it with both hands.

"Even if at 16 years old it isn't an easy decision, you have to leave your home, family and friends. But I don't want to have regrets."

It is not the first time Ferguson and United have raided Italian youth teams, having previously snapped up Giuseppe Rossi and Federico Macheda.

Massacci becomes United's third signing of the summer, after shelling out £15million on Antonio Valencia and bringing in free agent Michael Owen.

PA Sport

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  1. ramie.allison1 # 57

    Ronaldo had buckets of talent to­ begin with. If you've ever seen that game he played­ against Manchester United ... Ronaldo ran rings around­ us and he's a whole lot better now. You Tube –­ Cristiano Ronaldo Vs Manchester United
    Slosskar,­ Barthez, O’Shea’, Silvestre, Butt, Ferdinand, Fletcher,­ etc,etc

    The deal saw Ronald become the most expensive­ teenage signing in Britain, with Manchester United­ paying £12.24million over two seasons, in two equal­ payments. Those who had not seen him play baulked at­ the price such a lot of money for someone unproven!­
    Those who had seen the Man Utd vs. Sporting friendly­ just three days before, however, knew that this player­ was special. Playing for Sporting, Ronaldo had taken­ the game to the reds, and was the main reason that­ Manchester United lost 3-1. After the game, all the­ United players could talk about was how well Ronaldo­ had played, and they begged Sir Alex to buy him. Sir­ Alex had been following him for months, but decided­ that the time was right not least because other clubs­ were getting increasingly closer to buying him.

    His­ first performance for the club was against Bolton. He­ entered the fray with an hour gone, with United 1 0 up.­ A standing ovation from the fans at old Trafford did­ nothing to settle his nerves, but he rewarded the fans­ for their trust. A man-of-the-match performance­ followed, and Ronaldo became legend. He had a hand in­ two of the goals, won an unconverted penalty, and­ mesmerised the Bolton defence.
    The next day the media­ proclaimed him one of the best players ever for United,­ comparing him with Red-Legend George Best. Much had­ been seen, but much is still to come.

    From fraserdigby, on Thu 16 Jul 1:50AM

  2. Man U sign in owen?????????????
    HAHAHAHA
    LOSERS~~~~

    From hilmy95_liverpool, on Fri 10 Jul 3:54PM

  3. uutech3 and all you other Man Utd haters. Thank you­ because such hatred is only possible when you are­ really jealous of our success and wish your club could­ have half of it. No matter who you support in the­ world, man Utd have done better than them and this­ season will continue to dominate world football. Once­ again we have mugged Real Madrid off with another­ player past their sell-by date. they have spent allthat­ money and will win nothing yet Man Utd have hardly­ spent a penny and will continue to win everything­ again.

    From elrosso, on Mon 6 Jul 9:02AM
  4. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    last year for ferguson to smile..haha R.I.P­ ferguson...die in peace haha

    From uutech3, on Mon 6 Jul 6:02AM

  5. Just know a great cel eb site ___BigTalls CO M___­ where you can me et many big beau tiful wo man and hand­ some guys.

    From kentgad35, on Mon 6 Jul 4:00AM

  6. And Rodrigo Possebon is loaned to Braga. I'm­ waiting so much the end of this transfer window! f c k­ it! Let the season begin!

    From damnsoldja, on Sun 5 Jul 11:54PM

  7. 51.. Nicely said!

    From Adia, on Sun 5 Jul 9:39PM

  8. 51 - "ManUnited do not buy great players. They­ create them"
    ::
    Nicely put...

    From GrumpyOldMan, on Sun 5 Jul 8:12PM
  9. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

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    ALL MATCHES ON­ INTERNET: PREMIER LEAGUE, FA CUP, CHAMPIONSHIP,­ CARLING CUP, LIGA, SERIE A, BUNDESLIGA, CHAMPIONS­ LEAGUE - UEFA CUP, WORLD CUP 2010 QUALIFICATION, ­ CONFEDERATIONS CUP, FRIENDLY MATCHES AND MUCH MORE
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    From WWW.PREMIERSHIP.ALTERVISTA.ORG, on Sun 5 Jul 4:55PM

  10. hmm i doubt hes gonna make the first team, ferguson is­ just gonna breed him until he reaches 21 or somethin­ then sell him for 2 million to some italian club and­ earn some cash, when he really needs a left back­ he's just gonna go in the transfer market and get­ an experienced left back, not sticking with the­ youngsters

    From ryanho0001, on Sun 5 Jul 12:59PM

  11. im not a man united fan but ferguson did pull off a­ great bit of business in buying ronaldo for not a­ staggering amount (cant remember exact amount), he then­ scores shed loads of goals, helps win the premiership­ and champions league etc, then is sold for £80million,­ not a bad bit of business was it?

    From jamie, on Sun 5 Jul 10:49AM

  12. They also said Sheringham was a waste of time but look­ what happened in 99

    From David L, on Sun 5 Jul 9:05AM

  13. hey ronsenglish...
    why don't u get all the player­ man u developed in the real or even other­ 'unhated' clubs and lets see how their talent­ all deteriorated...
    don't u get it, man u really­ created the best out of them...
    it's undeniable...

    From J, on Sun 5 Jul 5:13AM

  14. peterbrew33,inainte de a te baga in pizda­ mati,pupa-ma'cur11

    From dorin c, on Sun 5 Jul 5:05AM
  15. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    cokrowinoto, "Man United do not buy great players.­ They create them".
    That's a lie they steal­ them from other clubs that have put in the spade work.­
    Which is why they are the most hated club in the­ world.

    From Ronsenglish, on Sun 5 Jul 2:22AM
  16. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    cokrowinoto, "Man United do not buy great players.­ They create them".
    That's a lie they steal­ them from other clubs that have put in the spade work

    From Ronsenglish, on Sun 5 Jul 2:20AM
  17. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    i can remember playing at junior level for 12th grade 1­ boys England against an Italian select junior squad and­ i played a basic sort of left wing and right back was­ Massacchi i got the better of him from the start and­ this italian coach was shouting all sorts of stuff at­ him and he got real flustered straight away which­ enabled me to score a giggs like goal against arsenal­ and take all the credit lovely

    From Cherie, on Sun 5 Jul 1:37AM

  18. ManUnited do not buy great players. They create them.

    From cokrowinoto, on Sun 5 Jul 1:30AM

  19. dorin c, for your patheticaly purile remark, you suck­ the rim cheese from a dead mans @#$%.!
    Now go stick­ your head in a pig you arse wipe:-

    From petebrew33, on Sun 5 Jul 1:14AM

  20. good news.
    sounds a promising player
    good news also in­ that theres now 3 signings already in pre-season by­ Manchester United.

    From harvister79, on Sat 4 Jul 11:05PM
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