David de Gea has come a long way from the ruddy little kid on the streets of Madrid to an accomplished goalkeeper for Manchester United. Despite the feeble and incoherent noises made by a section of Manchester United fans standing Dean Henderson, they all know that with De Gea, the fate of United is in better hands.
Since joining Manchester United 11 years ago, De Gea has settled into the team, winning several trophies in that period. The Spaniard has received several offers to leave the club, with Real Madrid, perhaps the greatest football club in history vying to bring him back to the Spanish capital.
It seems aeons ago when Real Madrid coveted the young De Gea and were desperate for him to dorn the white of Los Blancos. De Gea still holds the number one shirt at Old Trafford, but these days, his stock has dropped in the Spanish national team, with Unai Simon beating him to the spot in the last Euros.
Despite all he’s been through, De Gea sees himself as more Manchester than Madrid, and as the Red Devils take on Atletico Madrid in a Champions League tie, this may have drawn the ire of Atletico fans.
More Manchester than Madrid
David de Gea is a household name when it comes to football. He is undoubtedly one of the best goalkeepers around.
In a recent interview with UEFA, David de Gea confessed that he does not see himself leaving Manchester United. United face his boyhood club in a second-round UEFA Champions League tie on Wednesday. It will be the first time he comes up against Atletico since he left in 2011.
De Gea may have irked a section of the fans with his recent statement. The Spanish international said he sees himself as a Manchester local and intends to stay at United. According to De Gea, Madrid is just a city.
He claims that he feels like anyone else from Manchester and that where you are loved and welcomed is home.
Up against the reds and whites
Atletico Madrid have not been in good form this season and scraped through to the last 16 of the UEFA Champions League. Manchester United have not been fantastic either, but with Cristiano Ronaldo on the side, it is hard to bet against them, and bookmakers will agree.
De Gea is aware of the challenge before him and ought to be at his best at the Wanda Metropolitano. The former Spanish number one has not done his chances of a hero’s welcome any good with the statements made to UEFA.
De Gea, however, understands that it is a big game and wishes Atletico well. He acknowledges that Atletico allowed him to become who he is today, but he is defending a different badge now. De Gea almost joined Real Madrid in 2015, and it must count for something with a section of the fans.
The Manchester United goalkeeper's statement may be seen as a call to the United board for a contract extension, as his contract comes to an end in 2023.
By :
Steven D. Thompson
