Petrucci decides on United

3:22pm Saturday 14th June 2008

Roma teenager Davide Petrucci claims the offer of a job as a gardener for his father helped persuade him to leave Italy for Manchester United.

The 16-year-old is reportedly set to move to Old Trafford but the Italian club will receive only £200,000 in compensation for a player who scored 14 goals in 19 youth team matches last season.

"Going to play for the strongest club in the world is a great opportunity for me," said Petrucci. "United have offered my father Stefano a job as a gardener and he will accompany me. I will go over on June 30 and start in United's academy the next day."

He added: "It was hard to say no, even though I am a Roma fan and would have gladly stayed with them throughout my career.

"A month ago Roma offered me a contract on the minimum wage and they did not say how long it was for.

"I asked for a bit of time to consider it, as United's offer had already been made, but they gave me just three days.

"Roma closed the door on me while United opened another. They could have valued me more highly."