Former Man Utd star delivers positive verdict on club’s prospects after preseason reunion

Chirag Sharatkumar

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Former Man Utd star delivers positive verdict on club’s prospects after preseason reunion image

David de Gea hopes Manchester United can “do something big” this season under Ruben Amorim after making an emotional return to Old Trafford.

De Gea, who left United in 2023 after 12 years at the club, faced his former side for the first time on Saturday (August 9) as Fiorentina earned a 1-1 draw in the Red Devils’ final preseason friendly.

United went on to lift the Snapdragon Cup 5-4 on penalties, with De Gea substituted before the shoot-out.

During the match, he made five saves, including denying two Leny Yoro attempts and a hopeful long-range shot from Harry Maguire.

The Spaniard enjoyed a prolific spell as United’s No. 1, though he was unceremoniously shown the back door by former manager Erik ten Hag, who opted to bring in Andre Onana instead.

De Gea made 545 appearances for United, keeping 190 clean sheets and winning the Premier League, FA Cup, two EFL Cups and the Europa League.

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Now with Fiorentina, De Gea hopes that United, who finished 15th in the Premier League last season, can climb back among England’s elite following a big summer of spending.

United have added Matheus Cunha, Bryan Mbeumo, Diego Leon and Benjamin Sesko, and De Gea believes the new signings, along with manager Ruben Amorim, will be crucial to United’s success.

What did De Gea say?

Speaking after the match, fan favourite De Gea received a warm response from the Old Trafford faithful.

“I know it's been some years that United have struggled a bit, but it's one of the best clubs in the world,” the 34-year-old said.

“It's a massive club and hopefully this year, with the new signings and the manager starting a new era, they can do something big. Hopefully, this year they can be where they deserve.”

Saturday’s match also gave De Gea the Old Trafford farewell he never received, with the home crowd giving him a standing ovation when he was replaced by Tommaso Martinelli.

“This is a game I'll never forget, for sure,” the goalkeeper added.

“Sometimes it's difficult to describe with words how you feel on the pitch, seeing the crowd, with everybody there. It was so emotional for me.”

United open their Premier League campaign against Arsenal on August 16.

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Chirag Sharatkumar

Chirag Sharatkumar is a freelance writer for The Sporting News, with a focus on the Premier League, international football, and global fan culture. He also has extensive experience with the Stats Perform news agency and is a keen long-form sport and culture writer and storyteller. His work can be found on the pages of MUNDIAL Magazine and across various Substack platforms.