Agent: 'Federico Macheda to leave in January'

The agent of Manchester United striker Federico Macheda has revealed that his client will depart Old Trafford in the January transfer window.

The 21-year-old has not featured for the club in the Premier League this season due to a number of first-team players blocking his path to regular football.

He has spent recent loan spells at Queens Park Rangers and Sampdoria, and Giovanni Bia has admitted that the Italian will seek a move once more.

"Federico at this time is not finding space, and so it is clear that in January he will go away," Bia told tuttomercatoweb.com.

"But I don't think he'll be back again in Italy because usually in January clubs are looking for players that are already ready, unless there are teams with a quiet standing which want to do long-term projects with him."

Macheda joined United in 2007.