David de Gea has described the 12 months he spent away from football as the “best” of his life.
The former Manchester United goalkeeper left Old Trafford after 12 seasons in July 2023. He spent the entirety of the 2023/24 season as a free agent. He now plays for Serie A club Fiorentina.
De Gea’s Time Away From Football
De Gea said taking a year off to dedicate to his family and friends was an easy decision after 12 years at United. Speaking to Gazetta, he said he continued to train with a coach named Craig, who was very supportive. De Gea stated he was sure he could compete at a high level again, and that he was ready when Fiorentina called him. He added that he was speechless the first time he walked into Rocco B. Commisso Viola Park, stating there aren’t many facilities like it in Europe.
De Gea on Manchester United
De Gea reflected positively on his time in Manchester. He called Sir Alex Ferguson a “father figure”. He also said that losing the Premier League to Manchester City in 2012 drove United to win the title the following season. “We lost the Premier League in our first year when City took the title from us with a last-minute win despite our victory over Sunderland. I made up for it by winning it in 2012/13 – every game at United was special,” he said.
During his time at United, De Gea won the Premier League, FA Cup and League Cup. He established himself as one of the greatest goalkeepers in the game.
Fiorentina’s Season So Far
De Gea’s Fiorentina return to England to face Crystal Palace in the first leg of the Europa Conference League quarter-finals on Thursday. De Gea’s time in Florence has been mixed. His side became embroiled in a relegation fight, but have since pulled off a dramatic U-turn and begun climbing the Serie A standings.
De Gea commented on Fiorentina’s difficult season, saying there’s no explanation for it. He said they started badly and put a lot of pressure on themselves. “It was tough for me too, as I found myself fighting for survival for the first time,” he admitted. He added that the young players suffered more, and that you have to be mentally strong in those situations. “I wasn’t at my best either, but I didn’t give up. Hard work is the only way to,” he said.
De Gea is now 35 years old.