David de Gea has openly expressed his enduring love for Manchester United, calling it a ‘top, top club’ and sharing the emotional difficulty of leaving after 12 years.
The Spanish goalkeeper, who was released by United in the summer of 2023, has spent the past year without a team before signing a one-year contract with Italian club Fiorentina.
De Gea, with 545 appearances for United and a key part of their last Premier League title-winning team in 2013, conveyed how deeply he cherishes his time at Old Trafford. He admitted the transition was tough after such a long and successful stint, but he has now found new motivation with Fiorentina.
Reflecting on his year of solitary training and the struggle to stay motivated, De Gea shared, “It was challenging to find new motivations after being with United for 12 years. I never considered retirement, but I needed to find a new chapter, which I’ve found with Fiorentina.”
Despite being without a club, De Gea stayed in shape and kept his fitness levels high. He mentioned, “I stayed fit, training daily, and though it might take some time to get back to full match fitness, I’m prepared to step into the goal.”
De Gea expressed his gratitude to Fiorentina for their convincing pitch, stating, “I’m proud to join Fiorentina and represent Florence. The negotiation was smooth, and Fiorentina felt like the best fit. I’m excited to be part of the club’s history, help the younger players, and aim for success.”
He also praised the Serie A league, noting, “Italy is home to some of the best football, and I’m eager to get started with Fiorentina. Our focus is on the Parma game, and I believe we can achieve great things together.”
