Macheda may make more Italians switch shores

Around 50 young Italian footballers have moved to the United Kingdom in the last 12 years, thanks in part to different regulations and, of course, a salary that the average youngster back home can only dream about.

The ruling in Italy is that a player cannot sign professional forms until he turns 18, although they can sign a youth deal at 16 which is not very binding.

So during those formative years, clubs from the English Premier League, Scottish Premier League or Bundesliga can whisk any potential boy-wonder off to a new life.

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