David de Gea speaks out on Manchester United exit

David de Gea speaks out on Manchester United exit

David de Gea returned to Man United for the first time with Fiorentina after his insensitive departure in July 2023.

De Gea in the Old Trafford mixed zone (Image: Samuel Luckhurst)

David de Gea insists there are no hard feelings over his departure from Manchester United two years ago.

‌

De Gea, United's seventh-highest appearance holder, was granted a formal farewell on his first appearance back at Old Trafford in Saturday's 1-1 draw with Fiorentina.

‌

The 34-year-old was released by United in July 2023 after the club decided against offering him a new contract, having decided against triggering the one-year option in his deal.

‌

Erik ten Hag, the United manager at the time, opted to replace De Gea with his former Ajax custodian Andre Onana, who joined in a £47.2million transfer from Inter Milan.

Onana has had two error-strewn seasons and missed the entirety of United's pre-season schedule with a hamstring injury. Onana is hopeful of regaining fitness for the Premier League opening fixture against Arsenal next week.

De Gea is under contract at Fiorentina until 2028. La Viola finished sixth last season to qualify for the Europa League and De Gea helped them to reach the Europa Conference League semi-finals in his first season.

‌

"Sometimes football is like it is," De Gea said of his United exit. "You can't 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 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.

"Great, sometimes it’s difficult to describe with words how you feel on the pitch, seeing the crowd, the players, everybody there, it was emotional for me. It’s a game that I’ll never forget for sure."

‌

United came eighth and 15th in successive seasons without De Gea, their lowest finishes since 1990. The club salvaged the 2023-24 season with an FA Cup triumph but lost to Tottenham Hotspur in the Europa League final last season.

De Gea, who went more than a year without playing until he joined Fiorentina a year ago, is hopeful United will regain form in Ruben Amorim's first full season.

Fernandes greets De Gea back at Old Trafford

‌

"Sometimes this is football, you can't win all the time," De Gea added. "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."

De Gea joined United at the age of 21 in 2011 from Atletico Madrid for £18.9m and went on to play 545 times for the club. De Gea set new records for most appearances by a United 'keeper and most clean sheets.

Article continues below

The former Spain international met up with Sir Alex Ferguson during Fiorentina's stay in Manchester and reconnected with former teammate and friend Bruno Fernandes, who presented De Gea with a commemorative frame before kick-off at Old Trafford.

"It was great," De Gea said of his return. "It’s been a long time since I came back here so it’s been a special day. Old friends, people that I’ve been with a lot of time, I had a lot of love from them. Very special coming to Old Trafford, onto the pitch, with nearly a full stadium, it was amazing.

"He (Ferguson)’s the boss, the reason why I came to United. So yeah, he’s very important to me. He’s always talking to me, helping, he’s a legend for the club, everybody loves him. So happy to see him."

Click here to read article