Erik ten Hag’s departure from Manchester United has sparked varied reactions, but that of David De Gea has particularly attracted attention. The Spanish goalkeeper, who left the Red Devils in tense circumstances in the summer of 2023, posted a cryptic emoji on X (formerly Twitter) depicting a hand with pinched fingers, a gesture often interpreted as a “chef’s kiss”. This message was widely seen as a reaction to the dismissal of Ten Hag, his former coach.
A stormy separation and an interpreted message
The tensions between De Gea and Ten Hag were well known, particularly due to the coach’s demands for a goalkeeper more comfortable with the ball at his feet, thus pushing the club to recruit André Onana. This forced departure left a bitter taste for De Gea, who finally joined Fiorentina after a year without a club. The post of the emoji was quickly interpreted by fans as a nod to the current situation of Ten Hag, who is now suffering the same fate as De Gea.
