04-07-2009, 05:11 PM
United may have a rather Italian feel about it in years to come as Empoli 16 year old, Alberto Massacci, has agreed personal terms with a move to the Red Devils from Italy.
The deal is expected to be completed early next week as it is thought Massacci has already had and passed a medical at Carrington. The full-back spoke to Gazzetta dello Sport about how surprised and delighted he was when Sir Alex contacted him at first.
"When Sir Alex Ferguson rang me up, I couldn’t believe it. I had an hour-long conversation with him, in English. He seemed a humble person and nobody from the club made the pressure of an historic side weigh on my shoulders,” said the teenager.
"In life a chance like this only comes past you once, so you’ve got to grab it with both hands. It isn’t an easy decision aged 16 to leave home, family and friends, but I don’t want to have regrets."
It means that Alberto will join up with fellow countrymen, Davide Petrucci and Federico ‘Kiko’ Macheda at United.
United have been attacked verbally on poaching young talent from all over the world and it will add another club to the list of teams unhappy with United’s transfer styles, Empoli.
Federico Macheda was snapped up from the Lazio youth teams which left the Italian club less then impressed with the manner in which they lost a future star.
The deal is expected to be completed early next week as it is thought Massacci has already had and passed a medical at Carrington. The full-back spoke to Gazzetta dello Sport about how surprised and delighted he was when Sir Alex contacted him at first.
"When Sir Alex Ferguson rang me up, I couldn’t believe it. I had an hour-long conversation with him, in English. He seemed a humble person and nobody from the club made the pressure of an historic side weigh on my shoulders,” said the teenager.
"In life a chance like this only comes past you once, so you’ve got to grab it with both hands. It isn’t an easy decision aged 16 to leave home, family and friends, but I don’t want to have regrets."
It means that Alberto will join up with fellow countrymen, Davide Petrucci and Federico ‘Kiko’ Macheda at United.
United have been attacked verbally on poaching young talent from all over the world and it will add another club to the list of teams unhappy with United’s transfer styles, Empoli.
Federico Macheda was snapped up from the Lazio youth teams which left the Italian club less then impressed with the manner in which they lost a future star.
