David de Gea has revealed his “heart will always” be with Manchester United as the goalkeeper speaks about his move to Serie A side Fiorentina for the first time.
De Gea, 33, has been without a club since leaving United last summer after twelve years as the number one at Old Trafford. In his final season with United, the Spaniard helped the club to win their first trophy in six years as Erik ten Hag’s side triumphed in the Carabao Cup.
De Gea would also win the Premier League’s Golden Glove award as he oversaw a defensive unit who racked up 16 clean sheets. It was the second time the goalkeeper has won the prestigious award in his career at Old Trafford – the first coming under Jose Mourinho in the 2017/18 season.
It was something of a surprise, therefore, that United chose to move on from De Gea as his contract came to an end in June 2023.
A renewal had been discussed and offered during the season but the Spaniard chose not to accept it initially. United then retracted the offer after making the decision, based on Ten Hag’s influence, that De Gea would no longer be considered the number one.
Continued issues with the 33-year-old’s ability to play out from the back – a prerequisite for a goalkeeper in the Dutch manager’s system – came to a head in the FA Cup final against Manchester City the month prior to De Gea’s release.
Guardiola’s side were able to relentlessly press United as De Gea would surrender possession whenever his defenders played the ball back to him. This ensured Ten Hag’s men were unable to establish a firm footing in the game and City ran out comfortable winners. City 2 United 1.
It was this experience which led Ten Hag to make the decision over his goalkeeper’s long-term future with Inter Milan’s Andre Onana, who had previously played under the Dutchman at Ajax, targeted as a replacement.
Fast forward twelve months and this result was reversed in the same fixture between the same teams in the same stadium. Onana, 28, was key in helping United to play through City’s press and his new team produced a much better performance than the previous year as the Red Devils secured their trophy in successive seasons under Ten Hag. United 2 City 1.
De Gea, a free agent during this period, was linked with a number of clubs but has revealed it was “difficult to find motivation” to start a “new chapter” in his career after twelve years at a European giant like United.
There were reportedly offers from America and Saudi Arabia but the Spaniard finally found a new home earlier this month – Florence. Fiorentina agreed a deal to sign De Gea as a free agent on a year-one deal with the option of a further twelve month extension.
“Man United is a top, top club and my heart will always be there. I never thought about retiring, it was just difficult to find motivations for new chapter after 12 years at a top club like Man United…and I finally felt that at Fiorentina,” De Gea states.
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