Empoli right-back Alberto Massacci is the latest Italian talent to be signed by Manchester United.
The 16-year-old has still to make his Empoli debut, but he was spotted by United's scouts when he was voted player of the tournament in the international Gallini get-together in Pordenone last year.
United have been criticised for signing young Italian talents before they can be legally placed under a professional contract by their respective clubs, as was the case with Federico Macheda and Giuseppe Rossi.
Massacci is reported to have spent spent three days in Manchester, having a medical, and is set to fly back to England on Sunday to thrash out the finer details of the deal.
"I couldn't believe it when United called and it was really Sir Alex Ferguson on the phone," Massacci told La Gazzetta dello Sport.
"But it was him, and I had an hour-long chat with him, in English. He seemed a humble person and nobody from the club made the pressure of an historic side weigh on my shoulders.
"In life a chance like this only comes past you once, so you've got to grab it with both hands. It isn't an easy decision aged 16 to leave home, family and friends, but I don't want to have regrets."
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United have been criticised for signing young Italian talents before they can be legally placed under a professional contract by their respective clubs, as was the case with Federico Macheda and Giuseppe Rossi.
Massacci is reported to have spent spent three days in Manchester, having a medical, and is set to fly back to England on Sunday to thrash out the finer details of the deal.
"I couldn't believe it when United called and it was really Sir Alex Ferguson on the phone," Massacci told La Gazzetta dello Sport.
"But it was him, and I had an hour-long chat with him, in English. He seemed a humble person and nobody from the club made the pressure of an historic side weigh on my shoulders.
"In life a chance like this only comes past you once, so you've got to grab it with both hands. It isn't an easy decision aged 16 to leave home, family and friends, but I don't want to have regrets."
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