David De Gea has found his new home, Fiorentina. Free since the end of his contract at Manchester United in July 2023, the Spanish goalkeeper has lifted the veil on his departure from Old Trafford. The former Atlético Madrid player has confided his difficulties in bouncing back after eleven years with the Red Devils.
“United is a very big club and my heart will always be there. I never thought about retiring, but it was difficult to find motivations for a new chapter after 12 years at a big club like Man United… and I finally felt it at Fiorentina”he said in remarks relayed by The Mirror. (…) I spent a year in Manchester before returning to Madrid. I wanted to stay at a high level. I didn’t stop. It’s not easy to train alone. I spent two years in Manchester, it’s my home. It’s where my heart is.”
De Gea’s new challenge
“It was difficult for me to find the motivation to evaluate the offers, so I decided to take a sabbatical. I am fit, I train every day, even more than before. I am at a good level. It may take time for the first matches, but I have been playing for many years, so just put me in goal,” De Gea said.
At 33, De Gea has signed a one-year contract with Fiorentina and is preparing to play his first Serie A game of the season against Parma this Saturday. “The negotiation was simple, Fiorentina was the best option, he declared. Serie A is one of the best leagues in the world and I’m looking forward to meeting everyone. We have to focus immediately on the Parma match. We can dream of winning trophies and achieving our goals.”