Juan Mata has perfectly summed up David de Gea after the Manchester United legend’s penalty heroics for Fiorentina against Puskas Akademia on Thursday.
David de Gea left Manchester United at the end of the 2022-23 campaign after capturing the Premier League Golden Glove award.
The 33-year-old Spaniard’s contract at Old Trafford expired and De Gea spent the entirety of last season out of action amid his hunt for a new club.
De Gea regularly teased fans on social media with training clips and the United legend was linked with clubs in Spain, Italy, England and Saudi Arabia.
The former United No 1 ended his free-agent status earlier this month after he completed a sensational move to Serie A side Fiorentina.
READ MORE: Man Utd legend David de Gea sends immediate one-word message after penalty heroics for Fiorentina
Mata’s message to De Gea
David de Gea made his long-awaited return to football with his Fiorentina debut against Puskas Akademia in the first-leg Europa Conference League play-off match.
However, the Manchester United legend conceded three times at the Stadio Artemio Franchi in Florence, which was his first match since the 2023 FA Cup final.
De Gea secured his place in the starting XI for the return leg of the play-off clash and the Spaniard made his impact for Fiorentina against Puskas Akademia.
Zsolt Nagy’s injury-time penalty pulled Puskas Akademia back into the contest, with Fiorentina reduced to nine men ahead of penalties.
But De Gea stepped up and denied Puskas Akademia’s Roland Szolnoki from the spot-kick to ensure Fiorentina’s victory in the penalty shootout.
The former Spain international took to Instagram and posted a clear-cut message after Fiorentina’s Europa Conference League play-offs.
“Qualification – achieved,” he wrote, adding a fist emoji and a heart emoji.
Juan Mata, who played alongside De Gea for club and country, responded to the Fiorentina shot-stopper’s post on Instagram Stories.
“Class is permanent,” he wrote, adding a flexing emoji and a heart emoji.
De Gea’s Fiorentina run so far
De Gea was forced to settle for a place on the Fiorentina bench and was an unused substitute in the 1-1 Serie A draw against Parma at the Stadio Ennio Tardini.
Despite playing in the first leg against Puskas Akademia, De Gea was dropped from the starting XI for Fiorentina’s 0-0 draw against Venezia in Serie A last week.
However, the United legend bounced back from the setback and returned to the starting XI for the second-leg Europa Conference League play-off match.
De Gea’s performance against Puskas Akademia could potentially lead to Fiorentina manager Raffaele Palladino handing the Spaniard his Serie A debut.
Fiorentina return to action in Serie A on Sunday when they face Italian side Monza at home, with kick-off slated for 5:30pm UK time.
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