Greek side Panathinaikos have confirmed the signing of former Manchester United forward Federico Macheda on a three-year deal.
Macheda, 27, burst onto the scene with a last-gasp winner on his United debut against Aston Villa in the 2008-09 campaign, which would help the club go level with Liverpool on 18 Premier League titles. However, at the age of 17, that proved to be the highlight as his career took a downward spiral.
Ex #Lazio #MUFC #Sampdoria and #Novara striker Federico Macheda has officially signed for #Panathinaikos https://t.co/zFWfW9XgOK pic.twitter.com/fPl0WlLyCw
— footballitalia (@footballitalia) September 3, 2018
Following loan spells at Sampdoria, Queens Park Rangers, Stuttgart, Doncaster and Birmingham, he joined Cardiff in 2014 before again being loaned to Nottingham Forest.
In 2017, he signed an 18-month contract Italian Serie B side Novara and stayed until the summer when his deal expired.
Panathinaikos finished a lowly 11th in last season’s Greek Super League and are not involved in any European football in this campaign.
Macheda returned to Manchester United at the end of the season having made 14 appearances in Sampdoria’s unsuccessful battle against relegation. Upon his return, he expressed his wish to continue his football education in England, saying “For a youngster, England is a better place to play.” Macheda then scored two goals against the New England Revolution in the first game of Manchester United’s 2011 tour of the United States.
Macheda played his first game of the 2011–12 season in Manchester United’s 3–0 win over Leeds United in the League Cup. He scored another goal, from the penalty spot, in United’s 1–2 loss to Crystal Palace in the quarter-finals of the 2011–12 Football League Cup.