Forget McTominay, another star lauded for ‘exceptional’ Serie A performances after being released by Man Utd

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A number of former Manchester United stars have found success in Italy in recent seasons.

From Chris Smalling to Romelu Lukaku, Serie A has been a popular next step for Manchester United players looking to reinvent their careers.

Scott McTominay has recently enjoyed huge success, leading Napoli to the Serie A title, even earning a Ballon d’Or nomination.

But he was not the only former Manchester United player to restart their career in Italy in 2024, with David de Gea starting afresh too after a one-year hiatus.

David de Gea praised by Pepe Reina

The shock of being released by United in 2023 was a lot to digest, and David de Gea was unhappy with the way it was handled, particularly by Erik ten Hag and John Murtough.

The Spaniard had admitted he had struggled to find motivation, after spending more than a decade with United.

De Gea ended up making 42 appearances in all competitions for Fiorentina in 2024/25, making the Europa Conference League semi-finals.

He made a positive impression in his first few games, making it look like he had never been away.

Speaking this week to TMW, former Spain teammate Pepe Reina admitted his admiration for the way De Gea has performed for Fiorentina.

Reina said: “Hats off to him. After a year out, I didn’t expect him to return with such confidence, leadership, and self-belief.

“He was exceptional and brought the team a lot of points. Last season, he was Fiorentina’s most decisive player.”

• READ MORE: Manchester United transfer history 2013 to present day

De Gea lauded as great goalkeeper to learn from

David de Gea is one of Manchester United’s best ever goalkeepers, signed under Sir Alex Ferguson as a successor to Edwin van der Sar.

Many promising goalkeepers have learned under De Gea during their time at Old Trafford, and his vast experience is now being passed on at Fiorentina.

Promising Italian teenager Tommaso Martinelli, 19, is highly-rated and there was some surprise he stayed at Fiorentina and did not push for first team football elsewhere.

Reina points out the positives of sticking around, commenting: “Training with De Gea can also be a useful option.

“Personally, I would have preferred to play every weekend, even against teams with lesser-rated teammates. But playing against a champion like De Gea every day is still a learning experience.”