United striker joins Cardiff City

Federico Macheda, whose contract with Manchester United expired at the end of this season just gone, has joined Championship side Cardiff City on a free transfer. Still only 22, the Italian spent last season on loan at Birmingham City in the second tier, where he scored 10 goals in 18 appearances. And while he was clearly not quite at the level United are generally looking for, there's a decent player there. Good luck to him.

Said the player:

It's a massive opportunity for me and it is with thanks to Ole Gunnar Solskjaer that I am here. I'm really looking forward to starting this season. This is a new chapter of my career and I can't wait to get going.

Macheda and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer have worked together before, of course, when the Norwegian was in charge of United's reserves. Indeed, the story goes that it was Solskjaer who persuaded Alex Ferguson that Macheda was worth throwing into the first-team squad. What came next, of course is the goal for which he will always be remembered, that glorious equaliser against Crystal Palace in the 2011 League Cup. Although United went on to lose that game, Macheda ...

Ho ho ho.

Ho ho.

Ho ...

Alright, here you go. Might want to turn the volume up a touch on this one. MachedaaaaaAAAAAaaaaaAAAAAaaaaaAAAAAaaaaaAAAAA!!!!!