Full Interview: David de Gea reveals how life was difficult for him at United before his new deal
It took much longer than anyone would have expected, but David de Gea finally has a new club after leaving Manchester United.
The Spaniard joined Fiorentina during this transfer window after sitting out the whole of the previous season despite links to many clubs.
It was baffling, since despite his shortcomings with the ball at his feet, he left United as the Golden Glove winner and was clearly still an elite shot-stopper.
Now, De Gea has lifted the lid on why his United spell made it difficult for him to find a new team in quick time despite being a free agent.
David de Gea of Manchester United during the Emirates FA Cup Final between Manchester City and Manchester United at Wembley Stadium on June 03, 202…
After sitting out a whole season of professional football, there are understandably reservations about how ready the goalkeeper is for top-level football.
He spent the best years of his career at Old Trafford and the love and adoration he received from the fans made him a legend here.
However, it also gave him a problem for his post-Man United life. For starters, he was on an extremely high wage with the club, something that no other club was going to offer him outside of Saudi teams.
Now, De Gea himself has revealed the reason why the United spell made it harder for him to decide on his eventual return to the game.
He said his “heart will always be” at Manchester United and the reason it took so long for him to return to football is because he had trouble finding motivation after 12 years at “a top club like Manchester United”.
He said: “Man 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 new chapter after 12 years at a top club like Man United… and I finally felt that at Fiorentina.”
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Not a good time for free agents leaving Man Utd
De Gea has finally found a club after a whole year in the wilderness and yet, it is not even the worst scenario for players who left United as free agents.
In the most recent example, Raphael Varane had a disastrous debut for Como, continuing the theme that frustrated fans about him at Old Trafford.
It is notable that Anthony Martial still remains without a club while going back further, the likes of Jesse Lingard find themselves playing in South Korea.
For years, United spent millions in wages on underachievers to protect their value when they were not worthy of getting that wage or earning that much anywhere else.
It has led to a situation that hasn’t benefitted those players either, as wilderness and silence await them in the market once the contract expires.
De Gea came through that to return to a club in the top-five leagues again but it is undoubtedly a step down from United too.
Nonetheless, he left the club with the best wishes of the fans who will continue to cheer on his success from afar.
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