Federico Macheda has said he is hoping to remain in England after an ill-fated spell in his native Italy.

The 19-year-old Man Utd striker was sent out on loan in January to struggling Serie A side Sampdoria, who ended the season with relegation.

"I really wanted to have an experience in Italy," Macheda told Sky Sport Italia. "But I now hope to stay in the Premier League. For a youngster, England is a better place to play.

"I arrived in Genoa with great enthusiasm, but it wasn't easy from a psychological point of view to leave United and join a Sampdoria side who were fighting relegation. It was a delicate situation."

Macheda joined United from Lazio on a scholarship in 2007.

Written by
Neil Wilkes