TEEN sensation Federico Macheda cost Manchester United just £35,000.

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

But while United fans revel in their new hero’s match-winner against Aston Villa on Sunday, a thundering row has erupted in Italy with his old club Lazio fuming at being paid so little in compensation.

Last night, Lazio president Claudio Lottito launched a devastating attack on the “immoral” Red Devils for the way they moved in and “stole” Macheda the day after he turned 16 in August 2007 — as United took advantage of FIFA rules which prevent players turning pro in Italy before that age.

Lottito said: “We knew Macheda was a great player. We had done everything possible to keep him at Lazio.

“Nevertheless, Italian laws did not permit that a young lad below 16 years old could sign a contract, so these kids can be stolen by other clubs.

“These clubs do not respect the ethical code and go to the parents of kids, give them money, maybe even find them work so they ‘buy’ the parents, who then sign on behalf of their kid.

“These are kids that come from poor families and, to get more money, these families even are willing to go abroad with the hope their kid becomes a great player with a lot of money.

“I spoke with the parents of Macheda, making them a great offer — but they had already decided to leave.

“It’s immoral because this is like people behave in the cattle market. In football it should not happen because it’s a sport that is based on authentic values like the respect to the rules.”

Ex-Lazio sporting director Walter Sabatini also laid into United.

He said: “Taking Macheda was an act of cowardice and arrogance on the part of Manchester United.

“In my view they robbed Lazio, just as they robbed Parma for Giuseppe Rossi before.

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“Someone has to do something to change the rules because so many clubs are getting fleeced in this way so that the strongest clubs can just get stronger.

“I wrote three letters on behalf of Lazio, for the attention of Ferguson at Manchester United.

“I explained that it was wrong for one great club to be hitting another in this way. I said that taking Macheda showed a lack of respect.

“Ferguson never once replied personally but some club secretary wrote back saying that everything United were doing was within the rules.”

Macheda hopes scoring United’s most crucial goal for years will save him from a year on loan at Rangers. Fergie was considering sending the teenager to Glasgow to sharpen his skills.

But after Sunday’s dramatic late winner, Ferguson is tempted to promote the striker to his first-team squad for the 2009-10 season.

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.”

Ah BOO FUCKING HOO for poor Lazio. Don’t blame United you dumb stupid Italian bastards. Blame your laws that prohibit your teams from signing these players before the age of 18. My heart fucking bleeds. After all the skulduggery we have had to deal with when it comes to Real and Ronaldo, it’s nice to know we screwed over an Italian team.

I think you’re trying to find a scapegoat for something that isn’t there, or to detract from the fact that Nani will be sitting on spurs bench next season….

Also, who is he afraid of loosing an england place to? Jagielka? Lescott? Upson? Think it through…