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Former Manchester United goalkeeper David De Gea shared a message on social media after guiding Fiorentina to a 2-1 win over AC Milan in Serie A on Sunday, October 6. The Spanish shot-stopper produced an excellent performance, saving two penalties in the victory over the Milan club.
The ex-Red Devils star denied Theo Hernandez and Tammy Abraham goals from the penalty spot with brilliant saves in each half. He saved Hernandez's penalty in additional time of the first half (45+1') and then denied Abraham from 12 yards out in the 56th minute.
The clash at the Stadio Artemio Franchi saw three penalty saves. Milan's goalkeeper Mike Maignan was the first to save from 12-yards out, denying Moises Kean in the 22nd minute.
French midfielder Yacine Adli then gave Fiorentina the lead, but the visitors restored parity through a Christian Pulisic goal, which came after both penalty saves by De Gea. However, Albert Gudmundsson's 73rd-minute strike decided the winner in the keenly contested encounter.
De Gea was thrilled after the victory and shared a 10-word message on Instagram. He wrote:
"Started in Spain, made in Manchester, loving it in Italy 💜"
The 33-year-old began his career in the academy of Atletico Madrid before progressing to become a first-team regular in the LaLiga side. In 2011, following the retirement of Edwin van der Sar, Manchester United signed De Gea as their first-choice goalkeeper reportedly for a £18.9 million deal.
He spent 12 seasons with the Premier League club before leaving as a free agent in 2023. After a year without a club, De Gea was signed by Fiorentina in the summer and has established himself as a vital player for the Serie A side.
After sitting on the bench for the team's first three league games of the season, he has now secured a spot in the starting XI. De Gea has played the full 90 minutes of his side's last four Serie A matches, conceding five goals and keeping one clean sheet.
How did David De Gea perform during his stint at Manchester United?
De Gea was arguably one of Manchester United's best players prior to his exit from Old Trafford. During his time in England, he earned a reputation as one of the best shot-stoppers in Europe due to his outstanding reflexes, spectacular saves, and his knack for saving the ball with his feet.
De Gea made a total of 545 appearances for Manchester United, conceding 590 goals and keeping 190 clean sheets during that period.
Despite being frequently criticized for his mistakes leading to goals, the Spaniard still distinguished himself as one of the best in his position. He was named Manchester United's Player of the Season four times and was included in the PFA Team of the Year five times between 2013 and 2018. Additionally, he won the Premier League's Golden Glove twice in the 2017-18 and 2022-23 seasons.
