Macheda spent the next couple of years on the fringe of the United first-team, before twice going out on loan – first to Sampdoria in his native Italy in 2011, and then to Queens Park Rangers in 2012, the latter of which was curtailed by injury.

Having failed to break into the Manchester United first team, Macheda was released at the end of his contract in June 2014, leaving him free to sign for Cardiff City.

[1] He began his football career with Lazio's youth team after being spotted at the local Atletico Prenestino club in Rome.

[6] In his first season with the club, he finished as the Under-18s' top scorer with a total of 12 goals in 21 appearances, and also made his debut for the reserves on 26 February 2008, when he came on as a 68th-minute substitute for Gerard Piqué in a 2–0 away defeat to Liverpool.

[7] On 12 May 2008, Macheda earned a Manchester Senior Cup winners' medal when he was named as an unused substitute for the 2–0 win over Bolton Wanderers in the final.

[11] With United 2–1 down heading into the final third of the game, manager Alex Ferguson brought Macheda on to replace Nani just after the hour mark.

[15] With Ferguson opting to rest his big-name players for the FA Cup semi-final against Everton on 19 April, Macheda was given his first United start.

[16] He started his first league game in a 2–0 win over Middlesbrough on 2 May; he was involved in the build-up to Park Ji-Sung's goal, but he failed to score and was substituted ten minutes into the second half.

[22] He came on as a substitute for Berbatov in the League Cup fifth round on 1 December,[23] before signing a four-year contract the next day that would tie him to the club until June 2014.

[26] With Wayne Rooney suffering ankle ligament damage against Bayern Munich in the Champions League,[27] Macheda was named on the bench for United's top-of-the-table clash at home to Chelsea on 3 April.

[28] On 28 July 2010, Macheda scored his first goals of United's pre-season tour of North America as he netted twice in the 2010 MLS All-Star Game.

[40] On the same day, he played his first game, coming on as a substitute for Heiðar Helguson in the 80th minute in the 2–1 loss to Norwich City at Loftus Road.

[42][43] Macheda returned to Manchester United for pre-season training and was chosen to take part in the club's tour of South Africa.

[53] On 31 January 2014, Macheda became the third Manchester United youngster to join Championship club Birmingham City on loan until the end of the 2013–14 season, after Tyler Blackett and Tom Thorpe.

[57] After being released from Manchester United, Macheda signed for newly relegated Championship club Cardiff City on a free transfer on 27 May 2014.

[59] Macheda received his first red card for Cardiff on 14 March 2015 against Brentford for a second yellow after scoring an equaliser earlier in the match.

[74] In summer 2022, after four years in Greece, Macheda signed a two-year contract with newly promoted Turkish Süper Lig club Ankaragücü.

[76] On 30 September 2024, Macheda returned to Greece and joined Asteras Tripolis as a free agent on an initial one-year deal.

Regarded as one of Italy's most promising prospects in his youth, in 2010 Don Balón included him in their list of the 100 best young players born after 1989; in recent seasons, however, he has often struggled to live up to his potential.

[83][84][85][86][87][88] Early in the morning of 12 July 2009, Macheda's home in Sale, Greater Manchester was targeted by burglars, who stole cash and jewellery.