Former Man United hero Macheda joins Panathinaikos

Former Manchester United striker Federico Macheda has joined Panathinaikos on a three-year contract, the Greek giants announced on Monday.

While a teenager, the 27-year-old Italian scored crucial late-season goals against Aston Villa and Sunderland as United pipped Liverpool to the 2008/09 Premier League title, but has struggled for form since.

He spent the last two seasons at Italian outfit Novara, scoring 10 goals in 51 league games, but left after they were relegated from the second-tier Serie B.

While at United, Macheda had spells on loan at Sampdoria, QPR, Stuttgart, Doncaster and Birmingham, before leaving to join Cardiff in 2014.