David de Gea has now waxed lyrical about a “beast” talent that ranked high in the books of Manchester United summer signings Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo.
Matheus Cunha became the first major summer signing of the ‘Ruben Amorim era’ at Old Trafford after the Red Devils finally landed the 26-year-old former Wolves ace.
United signed Cunha from Wolves for a £62.5m transfer fee in June after the Premier League club triggered the Brazil international’s release clause.
Diego Leon arrived at Old Trafford earlier this month before United made their third signing of the summer for Ruben Amorim with their acquisition of Bryan Mbeumo.
Mbeumo was a key target for United alongside Cunha this summer and the Red Devils officially announced the signing of the former Brentford ace on Monday.
United exceeded the fee paid for Cunha with the transfer acquisition of Mbeumo, with the Red Devils paying £65m and agreeing to a further £6m in add-ons.
What David de Gea said about a Man Utd ‘animal’ will be music to the ears of Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo
David de Gea made his long-awaited return to football in 2024 with Serie A outfit Fiorentina after his departure from Manchester United in 2023 as a free agent.
Erik ten Hag allowed the 34-year-old Spaniard to leave United after 12 seasons at Old Trafford, having arrived under legendary ex-manager Sir Alex Ferguson in 2011.
De Gea, who won the Premier League Golden Glove in his final season at United, spent time on the sidelines before he completed a move to Fiorentina last summer.
Speaking to Cronache di spogliatoio, the Fiorentina shot-stopper looked back on his career and was asked about playing with ‘incredible footballers’ like Wayne Rooney.
Wayne Rooney is widely regarded as one of the best Premier League strikers of all time and De Gea admitted that his fellow United legend is “rarely talked about.”
“A supernatural striker,” De Gea said.
“He’s rarely talked about. He could have played more, he was a beast. He trained like an animal and in matches he was the same.
“He’d get angry and drag the team along. A true, authentic Englishman.”
What have Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo said about Wayne Rooney before David de Gea’s incredible praise for the Man Utd icon?
Matheus Cunha talked up the impact that United all-time leading scorer Wayne Rooney had on him growing up after he left Wolves and arrived at Old Trafford.
Speaking in his first interview with United last month, he said (via Goal): “It’s always hard to talk about because I remember the whole squad at the time that I started to watch them.
“You know, in the front, Rooney — wow! Someone that I think I have a lot of similarities in my game, because I always give everything.
“I remember he was the No 10 and everyone loved the skills of the player in this shirt, but he always brought more.
“He went to the grass to take the ball; this kind of energy inside of him was a big example.”
Bryan Mbeumo, much like fellow United summer signing Cunha, has spoken highly of the legendary 39-year-old former Red Devils and England striker in the past.
The 25-year-old former Brentford ace chatted with The F2 in June and Mbeumo hailed De Gea’s ex-United teammate Rooney as the best English player of all time.
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