David de Gea reveals he cannot see himself leaving Man United
‘I feel as if I’m from Manchester’: David De Gea insists he cannot see himself EVER leaving Old Trafford ahead of his return to boyhood club Atletico Madrid in the Champions League
- David de Gea joined Man United from boyhood club Atletico Madrid in 2011
- The goalkeeper faces his former side in the Champions League on Wednesday
- Ahead of his return, the Spaniard claimed he feels like he is a Manchester native
- The 31-year-old insisted he is going to his hometown looking for a United win
Manchester United goalkeeper David de Gea has revealed he cannot see himself moving away from Old Trafford ahead of facing his former side Atletico Madrid.
The Madrid native will face his boyhood club for the first time since his 2011 move to United on Wednesday in their Champions League last-16 tie.
Despite returning to his hometown, the Spaniard claimed he now considers himself a Manchester local and suggested he intends to stay at United.
Man United goalkeeper David de Gea cannot see himself moving away from Old Trafford
‘I like the fact I was born in Madrid, but at the end of the day, it’s just a city,’ he told UEFA.
‘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.
‘Of course, I’m going back home [for this tie], I’m going back to the club that gave me the opportunity to be who I am today. But this is just another match.
The 31-year-old will face his former side Atletico Madrid this week in the Champions League
‘Everyone wants to play well, we want to win, it is a Champions League match.
‘Obviously, I wish Atlético all the best, but I don’t know whether the fact we’re playing them is a good or bad omen. Everyone is going there to win, especially me.’
The 31-year-old’s contract at Old Trafford is set to expire in 2023 but his comments appear to suggest he is open to an extension.
The Spaniard’s contract at United is set to expire in 2023 but he suggested he wants to stay
De Gea broke through at Atletico but could face a mixed welcome after he almost made the move to rivals Real Madrid in 2015.
He claimed he owed his self-belief and mental strength to his breakthrough as a teenager at Atletico.
‘At that moment, I was kind of the third-choice goalkeeper [behind Sergio Asenjo and Roberto],’ he said.
‘I have always believed in myself, I used to train a lot and just tried to prove: “I am here, I may be young but I’m good enough”.
De Gea claimed he owed his self-belief and mental strength to his breakthrough as a teenager
‘I tried to do my best, and then, it was fortunate for me but unfortunate for Roberto that he got injured and I got the chance to prove that I was good enough.
‘When Quique [Sánchez Flores] arrived, the team changed. We won game after game, and there was a moment when Asenjo and I were both available and he chose me. I played nearly every game.
‘We made it to the final of the UEFA Europa League, and we won it. We also made it to the final of the Copa del Rey. We lost, but at least we made it to the final. And then we won the UEFA Super Cup against that great Inter side.’
Share this article
Source: Read Full Article