Latest news with #DeGea
South Wales Argus
an hour ago
- Sport
- South Wales Argus
It was emotional – David De Gea enjoys ‘special' Old Trafford return
The 34-year-old's name echoed around the ground he called home for 12 years after captain Bruno Fernandes led a special presentation ahead of Saturday's friendly against the Serie A side. De Gea joined Fiorentina last August after a spending a year without a club following his Old Trafford exit after United's FA Cup final loss to Manchester City. David De Gea labelled his return to Old Trafford 'special' (Simon Peach/PA). That was the last of 545 matches he played for the club, putting him in seventh place in their list of all-time appearance makers, and fans gave him a standing ovation when he was replaced towards the end of 1-1 draw on Saturday. 'It was great,' De Gea said. 'It's been a long time since I've been back here, so it's been a special day. 'Seeing old friends, people that I've been with for a lot of time. I have a lot of love from them, so very special. Coming to Old Trafford, to the pitch with nearly a full stadium was amazing.' De Gea saw Sir Alex Ferguson, whom he still refers to as 'the boss', on the eve of a game that allowed him to say a proper farewell to United fans. 'Sometimes it's difficult to describe with the words how you feel on the pitch, seeing the crowd, the players, everybody there,' he said. 'It was emotional for me, so it's a game that I'll never forget for sure.' Asked if he had any disappointment about the way his exit unfolded in 2023, De Gea said: 'No, sometimes football is like it is. You cannot control everything. 'I've been here 12 years, very, very nice. It's one of the best periods of my life. 'Playing for this club is just unbelievable. Especially when you leave the club, you realise how big the club is, how difficult it was to be 12 years in a club like United. 'I'm always grateful for this club, for everyone. It's been an amazing journey.' De Gea produced some important saves on his Old Trafford return and is enjoying a new lease of life with Fiorentina. Asked whether there was a point where he considered packing it in during his year out of the game, he hesitated and said: 'Well, always you have these things come into your mind. 'But I was feeling good, I trained again, I was feeling ready to go again. 'Fiorentina gave me the opportunity to play, so I'm feeling very, very good there. It's like a family, so I'm feeling great, the city is amazing, the club is great. 'You see today we can play against top teams like United, so hopefully this year we can make something special as well.' De Gea is also hoping the good times roll for United after last season's embarrassing 15th-placed finish. 'Sometimes this is football,' he said of the last couple of campaigns. 'You cannot win all the time. 'I know it's been some years that United struggle a bit, but it's one of the best clubs in the world. It's a massive club. 'Hopefully this year with the new signings and the manager starting a new era they can do something big and let's see. 'Hopefully this year they can win something and be there where they deserve.'
South Wales Guardian
an hour ago
- Sport
- South Wales Guardian
It was emotional – David De Gea enjoys ‘special' Old Trafford return
The 34-year-old's name echoed around the ground he called home for 12 years after captain Bruno Fernandes led a special presentation ahead of Saturday's friendly against the Serie A side. De Gea joined Fiorentina last August after a spending a year without a club following his Old Trafford exit after United's FA Cup final loss to Manchester City. That was the last of 545 matches he played for the club, putting him in seventh place in their list of all-time appearance makers, and fans gave him a standing ovation when he was replaced towards the end of 1-1 draw on Saturday. 'It was great,' De Gea said. 'It's been a long time since I've been back here, so it's been a special day. 'Seeing old friends, people that I've been with for a lot of time. I have a lot of love from them, so very special. Coming to Old Trafford, to the pitch with nearly a full stadium was amazing.' De Gea saw Sir Alex Ferguson, whom he still refers to as 'the boss', on the eve of a game that allowed him to say a proper farewell to United fans. 'Sometimes it's difficult to describe with the words how you feel on the pitch, seeing the crowd, the players, everybody there,' he said. 'It was emotional for me, so it's a game that I'll never forget for sure.' Asked if he had any disappointment about the way his exit unfolded in 2023, De Gea said: 'No, sometimes football is like it is. You cannot control everything. 'I've been here 12 years, very, very nice. It's one of the best periods of my life. 'Playing for this club is just unbelievable. Especially when you leave the club, you realise how big the club is, how difficult it was to be 12 years in a club like United. 'I'm always grateful for this club, for everyone. It's been an amazing journey.' De Gea produced some important saves on his Old Trafford return and is enjoying a new lease of life with Fiorentina. Asked whether there was a point where he considered packing it in during his year out of the game, he hesitated and said: 'Well, always you have these things come into your mind. 'But I was feeling good, I trained again, I was feeling ready to go again. 'Fiorentina gave me the opportunity to play, so I'm feeling very, very good there. It's like a family, so I'm feeling great, the city is amazing, the club is great. 'You see today we can play against top teams like United, so hopefully this year we can make something special as well.' Once a Red, always a Red ❤️ 🧬 @D_DeGea — Manchester United (@ManUtd) August 9, 2025 De Gea is also hoping the good times roll for United after last season's embarrassing 15th-placed finish. 'Sometimes this is football,' he said of the last couple of campaigns. 'You cannot win all the time. 'I know it's been some years that United struggle a bit, but it's one of the best clubs in the world. It's a massive club. 'Hopefully this year with the new signings and the manager starting a new era they can do something big and let's see. 'Hopefully this year they can win something and be there where they deserve.'
Daily Mirror
an hour ago
- Sport
- Daily Mirror
David de Gea shows true colours with admission over difficult Man Utd exit
David de Gea clocked up more than a decade of service at Manchester United before he was shown the exit door by Erik ten Hag back in 2023 despite talks over a new contract David de Gea insists he does not hold a grudge with Manchester United over the manner in which he left the club back in the summer of 2023. The veteran goalkeeper, 34, spent 12 years at Old Trafford and was in talks to extend his stay further before Erik ten Hag, the club's former manager, decided he wanted to sign a new keeper. De Gea was subsequently released with the club declining to take up a one year option in the Spaniard's contract. The decision to part ways with De Gea - plus the way it was handled - massively divided opinion at the time. But De Gea, who played at Old Trafford in a pre-season friendly for his new club, Fiorentina, on Saturday, said there is no bad blood with United when he was asked if he was disappointed over the circumstances of his exit. "No. Sometimes football is like it is, you can't control everything," he replied. "I've been here [Manchester United] 12 years, very, very nice, it's one of the best periods of my life. Playing for this club is just unbelievable, especially when you leave the club, you realise how big is the club, how difficult it was to be 12 years in a club like United. I'm always grateful for this club, for everyone, it's been an amazing journey. "It's been a long time since I've been back here so it's been a special day, of course." After making the decision to move in a different direction in the goalkeeping department, Manchester United signed Andre Onana from Inter Milan in a deal worth £47.2million. Onana arrived with a reputation as one of Europe's top keepers but has struggled to replicate his impressive form in the Premier League, making a catalogue of high-profile errors. That in turn has led to speculation that United could move to sign a new goalkeeper this summer and several names have been linked with the Red Devils, who finished 15th last season. While it remains to be seen if Onana will retain his spot as United's No 1, De Gea is tipping Ruben Amorim to get his former club back to where they should be in the league. "Sometimes this is football, you can't win all the time," De Gea said. "I know it's been some years that United struggle a bit but it's one of the best clubs in the world, it's a massive club and hopefully this year with the new signings and the manager starting a new era they can do something big and that's it. "Hopefully this year they can win something and be there where they deserve." Join our new WhatsApp community and receive your daily dose of Mirror Football content. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.
Irish Independent
2 hours ago
- Sport
- Irish Independent
‘It was emotional for me' – David de Gea's reaction after his Old Trafford return
The 34-year-old's name echoed around the ground he called home for 12 years after captain Bruno Fernandes led a special presentation ahead of Saturday's friendly against the Serie A side. De Gea joined Fiorentina last August after a spending a year without a club following his Old Trafford exit after United's FA Cup final loss to Manchester City. That was the last of 545 matches he played for the club, putting him in seventh place in their list of all-time appearance makers, and fans gave him a standing ovation when he was replaced towards the end of 1-1 draw on Saturday. 'It was great,' De Gea said. 'It's been a long time since I've been back here, so it's been a special day. 'Seeing old friends, people that I've been with for a lot of time. I have a lot of love from them, so very special. Coming to Old Trafford, to the pitch with nearly a full stadium was amazing.' De Gea saw Sir Alex Ferguson, whom he still refers to as 'the boss', on the eve of a game that allowed him to say a proper farewell to United fans. 'Sometimes it's difficult to describe with the words how you feel on the pitch, seeing the crowd, the players, everybody there,' he said. 'It was emotional for me, so it's a game that I'll never forget for sure.' Asked if he had any disappointment about the way his exit unfolded in 2023, De Gea said: 'No, sometimes football is like it is. You cannot control everything. It's been a long time since I've been back here, so it's been a special day David De Gea 'I've been here 12 years, very, very nice. It's one of the best periods of my life. 'Playing for this club is just unbelievable. Especially when you leave the club, you realise how big the club is, how difficult it was to be 12 years in a club like United. 'I'm always grateful for this club, for everyone. It's been an amazing journey.' De Gea produced some important saves on his Old Trafford return and is enjoying a new lease of life with Fiorentina. Asked whether there was a point where he considered packing it in during his year out of the game, he hesitated and said: 'Well, always you have these things come into your mind. 'But I was feeling good, I trained again, I was feeling ready to go again. 'Fiorentina gave me the opportunity to play, so I'm feeling very, very good there. It's like a family, so I'm feeling great, the city is amazing, the club is great. 'You see today we can play against top teams like United, so hopefully this year we can make something special as well.' We need your consent to load this Social Media content. We use a number of different Social Media outlets to manage extra content that can set cookies on your device and collect data about your activity. Please review your details and accept them to load the content De Gea is also hoping the good times roll for United after last season's embarrassing 15th-placed finish. 'Sometimes this is football,' he said of the last couple of campaigns. 'You cannot win all the time. 'I know it's been some years that United struggle a bit, but it's one of the best clubs in the world. It's a massive club. 'Hopefully this year with the new signings and the manager starting a new era they can do something big and let's see. 'Hopefully this year they can win something and be there where they deserve.'
Glasgow Times
2 hours ago
- Sport
- Glasgow Times
It was emotional – David De Gea enjoys ‘special' Old Trafford return
The 34-year-old's name echoed around the ground he called home for 12 years after captain Bruno Fernandes led a special presentation ahead of Saturday's friendly against the Serie A side. De Gea joined Fiorentina last August after a spending a year without a club following his Old Trafford exit after United's FA Cup final loss to Manchester City. David De Gea labelled his return to Old Trafford 'special' (Simon Peach/PA). That was the last of 545 matches he played for the club, putting him in seventh place in their list of all-time appearance makers, and fans gave him a standing ovation when he was replaced towards the end of 1-1 draw on Saturday. 'It was great,' De Gea said. 'It's been a long time since I've been back here, so it's been a special day. 'Seeing old friends, people that I've been with for a lot of time. I have a lot of love from them, so very special. Coming to Old Trafford, to the pitch with nearly a full stadium was amazing.' De Gea saw Sir Alex Ferguson, whom he still refers to as 'the boss', on the eve of a game that allowed him to say a proper farewell to United fans. 'Sometimes it's difficult to describe with the words how you feel on the pitch, seeing the crowd, the players, everybody there,' he said. 'It was emotional for me, so it's a game that I'll never forget for sure.' Asked if he had any disappointment about the way his exit unfolded in 2023, De Gea said: 'No, sometimes football is like it is. You cannot control everything. 'I've been here 12 years, very, very nice. It's one of the best periods of my life. 'Playing for this club is just unbelievable. Especially when you leave the club, you realise how big the club is, how difficult it was to be 12 years in a club like United. 'I'm always grateful for this club, for everyone. It's been an amazing journey.' De Gea produced some important saves on his Old Trafford return and is enjoying a new lease of life with Fiorentina. Asked whether there was a point where he considered packing it in during his year out of the game, he hesitated and said: 'Well, always you have these things come into your mind. 'But I was feeling good, I trained again, I was feeling ready to go again. 'Fiorentina gave me the opportunity to play, so I'm feeling very, very good there. It's like a family, so I'm feeling great, the city is amazing, the club is great. 'You see today we can play against top teams like United, so hopefully this year we can make something special as well.' De Gea is also hoping the good times roll for United after last season's embarrassing 15th-placed finish. 'Sometimes this is football,' he said of the last couple of campaigns. 'You cannot win all the time. 'I know it's been some years that United struggle a bit, but it's one of the best clubs in the world. It's a massive club. 'Hopefully this year with the new signings and the manager starting a new era they can do something big and let's see. 'Hopefully this year they can win something and be there where they deserve.'
