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

Comment 28 - 47 of 67

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  1. Does anyone recognise the language spoken by Kenny­ Dalglish?

    From fraserdigby, on Sat 4 Jul 10:29PM

  2. owen GREAT SIGNING UTD 4 TREBLE YANIS

    From Sam, on Sat 4 Jul 10:20PM
  3. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    stevenprime (38)
    The vast majority of the british­ population are not interested in football, certainly­ not 80%.

    From harvister79, on Sat 4 Jul 10:11PM
  4. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    Sir alex Ferguson should now be called 'Mr. Ga­ Ga' for signing Owen. Retire them both off asap!

    From Tom..., on Sat 4 Jul 9:56PM

  5. i think it is right beacuse we need more players for­ the team

    From teckopp, on Sat 4 Jul 9:53PM

  6. Alex Ferguson knows what he is doing, You got to­ remember he is the most successful manager of all time­ and he knows how to spot talent. Real Madrid has no­ talent at all, all they can do is buy the best players­ from other clubs. Real Madrid are nothing compared to­ Barcelona. Man Utd are still going to win the premier­ league next season even without Ronaldo's help,­ bloody show off.

    From ali' s tartan army, on Sat 4 Jul 9:11PM

  7. spelling and knowing a little about football are 2­ different things, i will make a effort t6o spell­ corectly if you take your rose tinted galsses off, av­ we got a deal m8, oh sorry, just to be right, have we­ got a deal mate

    From stevenprime, on Sat 4 Jul 8:40PM

  8. So now Fergie’s a pervert ? It’s better than Madrid’s­ stack them high, buy them high policy. But if he’s so­ good at grooming 16yr olds and nurturing talent, then­ why did he get rid of Pique ( now a champions league­ winner with Barc ) and Giuseppe Rossi ( now scoring 50%­ for Villarreal and Italy. We do have a clause to buy­ him back. ) and countless others. Check out ‘Giuseppe­ Rossi by Cranberr’ on You tube. Sean Mc Ginty, 15yr old­ from Ireland another new signing today. Last years­ winners of the Youth Milk Cup would have done better­ against Barc than the seniors. Fergie’s building a new­ dynasty. I just hope he doesn’t do a Michael Jackson on­ us.

    Fergie’s just like the rest of us, sometimes he­ gets it right, sometimes he gets it wrong.

    From fraserdigby, on Sat 4 Jul 8:32PM

  9. Micheal Owen. SIR Alex Ferguson, Ian Rush, Peter­ Beardsly, Cappello and many others think that Owen can­ be a sucess at Utd, but what do they know about­ football ? not as much as the" experts" on­ here who KNOW Owen will be a failure.

    From Chill, on Sat 4 Jul 8:31PM

  10. Post 38 - your argument might carry some weight if you­ used grammar correctly... As it is, most people just­ stop after the the first couple of lines... It's­ worth making the effort, it really is...

    From Lawrence, on Sat 4 Jul 8:26PM
  11. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    ferguson you stink

    From seanoholian, on Sat 4 Jul 7:46PM

  12. what's all this c rap about Michael Owen and­ Fergie's judgement being somehow impaired?

    1999­ Teddy Sheringham a so called has been.....scored in and­ won the flipping European Cup.

    In Fergie we Trust. God­ bless him

    From denisauld, on Sat 4 Jul 7:44PM

  13. this is a worrying sign, that 80% of the british­ population stil find time to bang on that utd are­ finished, is this not the same people that say this­ every year, do any of you understand football, or do­ you watch it and think you know everything about it,­ you all make me laugh, year after year, signing after­ signing you all parp up, oh no whats fergie doing, well­ to be honest doing what he does best, and that is­ making liverpool, arsenal and chelsea looking average­ year after year, michael owen, you all chant his name­ and celebrate like he is your own when he scores in a­ world cup match, yet now he is finished cos he has­ signed for utd, so little do you know, you shopuld all­ be ashamed, call yopur self football fans, your not at­ all, your just a minority that thinks you know best­ when really you know nothing

    From stevenprime, on Sat 4 Jul 7:43PM

  14. if he is really very good we would be just grooming for­ Real Madrid.

    From dudutsvakai, on Sat 4 Jul 7:41PM

  15. A talented 16 years old doesn't translate into­ future champion but they will certainly get more chance­ than playing in Italy where at 24 they still think­ you're a youngster...

    From Morituri, on Sat 4 Jul 7:33PM

  16. A talented 16 years old doesn't translate into­ future champion but they will certainly get more chance­ than playing in Italy where at 24 they still think­ you're a youngster...

    From Morituri, on Sat 4 Jul 7:33PM

  17. fergs grooming boys tssss

    From nlwarburton, on Sat 4 Jul 7:31PM

  18. dorin c that is disguting but also very funny hahaaa

    From Zak, on Sat 4 Jul 7:27PM
  19. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    I guess Voyeur (Arsene) ain't that sharp after all.

    From ovidiu, on Sat 4 Jul 7:18PM

  20. FERGY HAS A PASSION FOR VERY YOUNG BOYS.....

    From dorin c, on Sat 4 Jul 7:17PM
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