Macheda still uncertain about returning

The future of Manchester United forward Federico Macheda appears uncertain after his agent revealed the player could stay in Italy beyond his current loan spell.

The forward joined Sampdoria in January and despite making only three league starts, his agent, Giovanni Bia, believes his client could well stay at the club next season.

“I will speak to Sir Alex Ferguson to decide what to do next season,” Bia told tuttomercatoweb.

“Sampdoria could be a useful experience for him, even in the case of Serie B, but it is still early to talk about it.”

The talented Italy under-21 international burst on to scene at Old Trafford with a dramatic injury time winner in a 3-2 over Aston Villa in 2009, a result that tipped the title balance in United's favour.

However, Macheda, 19, has found it hard to establish himself in a Sampdoria side battling to avoid relegation and his agent concedes his player returned to Italy too soon.

“The first games were played well but then maybe Federico was incorporated into this fight for salvation, and if the most experienced players were not able to raise the team, surely a 20-year-old boy can't do it,” Bia added.

“Macheda was bad for this situation. There's too much pressure and criticism in Italian football and I think he has regretted how it has turned out.

“In Genoa he has been fine, but he probably returned to Italy too soon. It's different football to the British game.”

Macheda signed for United from the Lazio academy in September 2007 and still has over three years left on his current contract.