The father of Manchester United starlet Federico Macheda admits he burst into tears after seeing his son win Sunday's clash with Aston Villa.

The 17-year-old hugged dad Pasquale after his sensational injury-time winner against Villa.

And Federico's father revealed: "The one thing I keep seeing in my mind is my son's eyes after he scored. When he ran towards me with 'tiger eyes'

"He had this incredible fiery look. Above all the noise I could hear him shouting 'come down, come down'.

"I raced down the steps and we hugged. His look was enough to say 'see where we have got to, see where we have come, dad.

"I burst into tears. It was beyond belief, I could not believe I was going through such a moment. It left me numb. I have watched the goal again and again on DVD. It is unbelievable."

Pasquale added: "Ever since he was a young boy I have watched my boy and thought of Marco Van Basten. In the past 18 months he's developed enormously, physically and technically at United. They have done a fantastic job.

"When United were 2-1 down to Villa I thought there would be no room for my son to come on. But then someone said 'there he is!'

"I rubbed my eyes because he looked like he had been playing for years - even alongside Cristiano Ronaldo he did not look like a rookie.

"When he scored I blanked out, I didn't see what happened. All these years I asked him 'when are you going to dedicate a goal to me?' He said nothing on Sunday, he didn't have to. His look said it all."