February 21, (THEWILL) – After nearly 11 years in Manchester, goalkeeper David de Gea has publicly committed his future to the club and claimed that he feels like he is “from Manchester.”
De Gea arrived at Old Trafford in the summer of 2011 as a 20-year-old, chosen by former manager Sir Alex Ferguson and goalkeeping coach Eric Steele as the candidate to succeed Edwin van der Sar, and went on to become the best goalkeeper in the world by 2014.
After overcoming an unsettling dip in form, the Spaniard is finding his greatest form at the age of 31.
His current deal is set to expire at the end of next season, with a 12-month extension option, and United officials have expressed an interest in meeting with De Gea and his advisors to discuss his long-term future. De Gea himself has given the team a boost by confirming his intention to stay at the club.
He told UEFA before his Champions League match against former team, Atletico Madrid, this week: “I like the fact I was born in Madrid, but at the end of the day, it’s just a city. Now I feel as if I’m from Manchester; I just feel like anyone else from Manchester.
“Where you are loved and welcomed is your home. I’ve been here for many years and, obviously, anything can happen in life, in the world of football, but honestly, I don’t see myself away from Manchester United.”
On the summer transfer deadline day in 2015, De Gea was famously just minutes away from joining Real Madrid — a £29 million deal with Keylor Navas in part-exchange was completed – but the paperwork was not submitted in time.
It was described as a homecoming for the Madrid native, albeit he now considers the north west of England to be just as much his home.
About the Author
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
