The Manchester United striker Federico Macheda could be set for a move to Germany or Spain in the next two weeks according to his agent. The Italian striker has had very little first-team action in recent times at Manchester United, despite making a stellar debut a few years ago. Macheda scored on his debut match for United, as they went on to secure a 3-2 win over Aston Villa three years ago. However, Sir Alex Ferguson thinks that the striker has not made sufficient progress since then in order to warrant a first-team spot. This coupled with the arrival of Robin van Persie has intensified the competition for the starting positions.

As a result, Macheda has been able to make just three appearances all season. None of them have come in the Premier league, which has put the striker in the position of searching for a loan move in order to get first team football. A loan move to another club never materialised during the summer, but his agent Giovanni Bia has said that his client has been subjected to interest from several clubs across Europe. He has said that Stuttgart from Germany and Genoa from Italy have a great chance of signing the player.

“We are at an advanced point with Stuttgart. Negotiations are going well but he is a player who is liked by a lot of clubs. Two Spanish ones, for example, are looking to intervene. There are Italian sides, too, from Siena to Bologna and others, but I think that [United manager] Sir Alex Ferguson wants to send him to a foreign side outside of the peninsula. He’ll join a club on loan with the option to be signed outright as his contract expires in June 2014,” said the agent of the 21-year-old striker, who has spent time at Sampdoria and QPR.