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 1 - 7 of 67

Sort comments by: Most recent
  1. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    talk with more millionai re friends,meet many ri ch­ people and good guys inculding some celebrities all­ these on __C lassymingle C om __ dont miss it

    From Click F, on Sat 4 Jul 4:56PM
  2. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    This is a wind up. Fergie, modest and simple, a bit­ like calling the Pope a gangster.

    From B4ts, on Sat 4 Jul 4:49PM
  3. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    heard alex furgusons intrested in scott brown

    From stephenfullarton, on Sat 4 Jul 4:42PM

  4. yeah there are official announcements, but only when­ the deal is complete, at the moment this contract will­ be in the process of being written up.. look at Real­ and Kaka... everyone knew he'd signed about a month­ ago, but they've only just unveiled him as a­ player..
    i think macheda will shock a lot of people­ this season and may well be the next ronaldo.. he's­ already scored more than ronaldo did in his first few­ games.. it took ronaldo quite a while to score his­ first, and he looked a lot more amateurish when he­ first joined the team..
    i hope this guy is just as­ good!!

    From mark, on Sat 4 Jul 4:39PM

  5. nice , quiet signings going on . watch the fergie­ magic!

    From scott, on Sat 4 Jul 4:32PM

  6. FIRST !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
    Never heard his name­ mentioned before ??

    From the silent assassin, on Sat 4 Jul 4:31PM

  7. How come it always seems to be agents and players­ claiming to have signed for United, or having been­ asked to. Are there no official announcements any more?

    From quatt47, on Sat 4 Jul 4:29PM
Sort comments by: Most recent

Not already a Yahoo! user ? to get a free Yahoo! Account