David de Gea has shown his true colours and his deep love for Manchester United, declaring it a 'top, top club' and admitting how difficult it was to move on.
After his release in the summer of 2023 following a remarkable 12-year association with the Red Devils, the Spanish shot-stopper found himself without a team for an entire year. However, he's now back in the game, having sealed a one-year contract with Italian giants Fiorentina.
With an impressive tally of 545 appearances for United under his belt and being part of the side that clinched their most recent Premier League title in 2013, De Gea expressed just how closely he still holds United to his heart despite the upheaval of his departure.
"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 a new chapter after 12 years at a top club like Man United... and I finally felt that at Fiorentina," the 33-year-old confessed.
Acknowledging the loneliness of training solo after his Old Trafford exit, the keeper stressed his determination to remain at the pinnacle of the sport: "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. That's where my heart is set.
The goalkeeper unveiled that he had lost motivation to assess different opportunities, leading him to a break from the game. He maintained his fitness, remarking: "It was difficult for me to find motivation to evaluate offers, so I decided to take a sabbatical. I am fit, I trained every day, even more than before. I am on a good level. Perhaps it will take some time in the first games, but I've been playing for many years, so you just need to put me in goal."
Despite being clubless during his hiatus, De Gea revealed continuous proposals came his way, but he reserved special thanks for Fiorentina's persuasive team convincing him to sign. He expressed gratitude and pride, commenting: "I am proud to wear the Viola shirt and to represent Florence. Thank you all. I want to thank the technical staff. It was a different year than usual. I decided to take a sabbatical, but I continued training alone."
He acknowledged the need to stay in peak condition ahead of his return, stating: "I had to be at my best, and when Fiorentina arrived, I had clear ideas. They have great fans and a great history. It was an easy decision; I didn't want to retire. Fiorentina have had great players and goalkeepers."
Aiming to etch his name in the annals of the club he added: "I want to be part of the club's history, help the young players, and have a winning mentality. I received many offers, but I wanted to play in Italy. Prade and Ferrari made it all easier, the parties had the same desire.
"The negotiation was simple, Fiorentina were the best option. Serie A is one of the best leagues in the world and I can't wait to meet everyone. We must immediately focus on the Parma game. We can dream of winning trophies and reaching our targets."
