7 Apr 2009

Lazio upset about losing Macheda

12:21 pm on 7 April 2009

The president of the Italian football club Lazio, Claudio Lotito, has called for a change in regulations to prevent home grown players such as Manchester United's Federico Macheda from moving abroad.

The 17-year-old Italian striker scored on his debut for United yesterday after learning his football at Lazio.

Regulations in most European Leagues, but not in the English Premiership, prevent players from signing professional contracts until they are 18.

Macheda was only 16 when he signed for United as a trainee in September 2007.

Macheda has kept his place in the United squad for tomorrow's Champions League quarter-final against Porto, despite the return of senior players Wayne Rooney, Paul Scholes and Nemanja Vidic.