Former Manchester United goalkeeper David De Gea has officially joined Fiorentina, marking his return to professional football after a year without a club. The Spanish goalkeeper signed with the Serie A team on a free transfer, having been a free agent since leaving Manchester United at the end of the 2022-23 season.
De Gea, who played 545 matches over more than a decade at Old Trafford, expressed his excitement about this new chapter in his career during his introductory press conference in Florence. Speaking in Italian, he stated, “I am proud to wear the Viola shirt and represent Florence. Thank you all.” He emphasized his commitment to maintaining a high level of performance, despite his time away from competitive football. “I didn’t stop training. It’s not easy to train alone, but I stayed motivated to keep myself fit,” he added.
Throughout his sabbatical, De Gea continued to train individually, preparing for the right opportunity to return to top-flight football. Despite the challenges of finding motivation without a team, he remained dedicated to staying in shape. “I am fit, and I trained every day, even more than before. I am on a good level,” De Gea affirmed, highlighting his readiness to step back onto the field.
De Gea’s decision to join Fiorentina was straightforward, given the club’s passionate fanbase and rich history. “It was an easy decision. I didn’t want to retire,” he explained, expressing his eagerness to contribute to the team’s success. Fiorentina finished eighth in Serie A last season and qualified for the UEFA Europa Conference League, offering De Gea the opportunity to compete in European football once again. He is expected to make his Serie A debut for Fiorentina against Parma next weekend.
