Newest ‘wonderkid’ Macheda spurs on Red Devils

From a distance, one could easily mistake him for Cristiano Ronaldo. The tall, lean physique. The dark, spiky hair. The seemingly effortless run. But no, this is not the reigning Fifa World Footballer of the Year; it is, instead, Federico Macheda, the ‘new kid on the block’, and the man who has single-handedly revived Manchester United’s season.

A mere fortnight ago, he was an unheard of quantity to all but the most ardent of Red Devils. A hat-trick against Newcastle United reserves at the end of March, a feat which took his record to 8 goals in as many reserve team games, aroused minor interest, but to the wider footballing world, Macheda was still a total unknown.

Meanwhile, as this 17-year-old from Rome kept up his rich vein of form, his invincible senior counterparts had just kept on winning. March 7th saw a demolition of Fulham at Craven Cottage, with progression to yet another FA Cup semi-final safely secured. Four days later and Old Trafford witness a nervy, yet ultimately satisfactory defeat of Jose Mourinho’s Inter Milan side, and the Champions League was once again firmly in Manchester United’s sights.

But then, with the national, and indeed international, media waxing lyrical about Sir Alex Ferguson’s latest team of all talents, the wheels were abruptly ripped from United’s unprecedented five trophy pursuit when Liverpool arrived. Needing no less than a win to maintain their fragile title hopes, the Merseysiders not only ripped up the script, but destroyed it. A 4-1 mauling left Vidic, Scholes et al reeling, with the effects evident in the following week’s 2-0 defeat at the aforementioned Fulham.

Suddenly, from cruising over the finish line, United’s fate was far from certain. What had seemed an inevitable third consecutive Premier League title had transformed into a battle to remain on top; further compounded by Liverpool’s 5-0 thrashing at home to Aston Villa.

And indeed it was against Aston Villa where this fairytale’s hero entered the fray. Trailing 2-1 on the hour mark, with an increasingly restless home crowd in evidence, Ferguson called for Macheda to get himself stripped, and the youngster replaced the ineffectual Nani.

Radio and television commentators alike welcomed his entrance with polite appraisals, none really expecting anything particularly mind blowing. And, for the first half hour, they were right. Macheda’s senior career seemed to be getting off to a solid, yet unmemorable, start. An 80th-minute equaliser from Ronaldo had the game heading for stalemate, and yet more nerves on the red side of Manchester.

The board for injury time went up, and the reigning champion’s troubles were there for all to see. The old heads seemed out of ideas, the team scarcely noticeable from the one of mere weeks ago. Needing a moment of genius from someone, anyone, it was the young Macheda who dutifully stepped up.

Receiving the ball to his feet from Ryan Giggs, the Italian initiates an instant ‘Cruyff turn’ with his first touch, before bending the ball viciously towards Brad Friedel’s goal. Past the flailing dive of the American, the ball cannons into the inside of the far post. The net bulges, Old Trafford erupts, ‘Fergie’ sighs in the deepest relief, and a new star is born.

Celebratory scenes are reminiscent of Goodison Park, 2003, when a 16-year-old by the name of Wayne Rooney announced his arrival with a thundering piledriver past Arsenal and England goalkeeper David Seaman that sealed an Evertonian victory. Whilst equally as flabbergasting, it would seem Macheda’s goal is of greater importance. In rescuing an extra two precious points, he, in an instant, revitalised the fortunes of a team seemingly running on empty.

A week later, just moments after replacing Dimitar Berbatov away at Sunderland, where United were once again drawing, Macheda was making headlines again. Michael Carrick drove a shot in that was heading well wide of Craig Gordon’s right-hand upright, before the latest prodigious talent to hit the Premier League stuck out a right boot, and the ball was deflected home.

The away end is rapturous, and once again this unheard of striker has delivered three points to an ailing side. Whilst far removed from the glory of the previous week’s effort, and despite many believing luck played the greatest part this time around, one thing is undeniable – Federico Macheda has renewed Manchester United’s quest for a quintuplet of honours.

Perhaps the only anomaly in this season’s fairytale lies in how, despite his heroics, Macheda will be unable to play enough games to achieve a league winner’s medal. Of course, this wound could be easily healed by the rumoured prospect of a lucrative five-year contract come his 18th birthday, and in addition, potential superstardom.