Federico Macheda cost Manchester United just £35,000 when he signed from Lazio two years ago.

The 17-year-old earns little more than a grand a week - the amount Rio Ferdinand picks up every TWO HOURS.

United reserve-team boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer had no doubt that Macheda would deliver once he got a chance.

He said: "Macheda is a big talent. It is not easy to leave your home country at 16 and come to a new culture.

"He signed pro last year but has buckled down and got a professional head on him. We expected him to make progress and he has."