From Man U outcast to Fiorentina’s star man… David de Gea’s comeback story

By Okezie Omorogie

There is nothing that excites football enthusiasts, players and expert analysts than a good comeback story. Numerous comeback stories have emerged since through football history across the globe but the one of 33 years old Spanish goal keeper David de Gea holds a special dynamism that others rarely have.

The Spaniard who was left out of contract with Manchester United at the end of the 2023/2024 season, stayed for a complete footballing season without a contract from any football club across the globe or even participated professionally in a football match for both country and club.

However, this season, during the summer transfer window, Italian Serie A club, Fiorentina signed him to be their first choice goal keeper on a 1-year deal with an option for a further season with the club and the rest seems to be a history as de Gea has appeared in games for Fiorentina to have a roller coaster ride.

Since embarking on a new career chapter in Italy, De Gea has made outstanding performances, showing class in games consistently and does not look to be deterred by age, even proving that he can still be among the best goal keepers across the globe or compared to the likes of Manuel Neuer of Bayern Munich and Emiliano Martinez of Aston Villa.

De Gea has been rated first in save percentage, second in saves per 90 minutes, sixth in goals prevented and has three clean sheets, making a strong effort to claim the Serie A goal keeper of the year.

In addition, De Gea masterclass performances has earned him man of the match a couple of times with the most recent coming in the match against Genoa last week in Serie A. Moreover, due to the brilliant performances that David de Gea has been consistently showing for his club, Fiorentina sits fourth of the Serie A table, even been regarded as a title contending team.

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However, the base of his masterclass performances since the start of this season both domestically and across Europe has not been one to be called luck or a mystery but a well-concerted and determined effort that De Gea himself made.

After his fallout with former United Boss Eric ten Hag and during his one season out of contract, playing professional football or even linked to a club, De Gea never gave up as many would have expected him to rather, he dedicated himself to personal training and sometimes would share videos and photos of his training sessions via his Instagram account, proving that he can still be worthy if given the chance to play professionally again someday and yes! he has been keeping to that desire.

David de Gea comeback story provides an inspiration for many footballers and enthusiasts of the sport that determination still very well produces excellence. Many fans have expressed their excitement with his return to professional football and hope that he continues to make these performances more often even across Europe.