Former United Goalkeeper David De Gea Shines at New Club Fiorentina
After leaving Manchester United with no prospects, things were looking bleak for David De Gea. Kicked away by his former team, where he spent 12 years and was part of multiple successful team compositions, Erik ten Hag made room for Onana, preferring a goalkeeper with better on-ball abilities and a more precise distribution.
After spending a year without playing, De Gea joined Serie A team Fiorentina this summer and after just six games, he is miraculous for the La Viola.
Show Stopper against AC Milan
Fiorentina got their second win in “Serie A” this weekend, thanks to David De Gea. Of course, it was a brilliant performance by the entire team and an entertaining game to watch. But this victory would not be possible without the goalkeeper’s miraculous display.
Twenty minutes in, and Theo Hernandez tries to clear the ball away from Milan’s box, clipping Dodo at the edge of the penalty area. Luca Pairetto points to the spot. It is a very debatable decision. Kean picked up the ball and fired it in the bottom left corner. Maignan saved it without a worry.
As the first half draws to a close, the action shifts to the other side of the pitch when Pulisic passes to Reijnders in the box, where he is challenged by Ranieri. The Dutch fell in Fiorentina’s box and the referee gave another penalty, this time to Milan. Theo Hernandez took the responsibility, and De Gea delivered. Hernandez chooses the lower left corner, and De Gea saves it.
But it doesn’t stop. In the 54th minute, Hernandez crosses from a corner kick and Kean tries to clear the ball. He cleared it but he also cleared Gabbia’s leg. Again, another penalty. Another weird decision. Kean played the ball, but Luca Pairetto gave out another penalty for the visitors. Abraham steps up, and De Gea dives to the right to make the save, much like a hero coming to the town’s rescue.
De Gea delivered again at the end of the second half in the 86th minute. The game became chaotic and fast, and Milan was close to getting one point from it, but as Chukwueze cuts in from the right side and shoots, the ball bounces. De Gea makes an excellent stop, and the game ends in a 2-1 victory for Fiorentina.
De Gea’s Penalty Record with United
David De Gea did not have a great penalty record with his former team, saving just five penalties in the twelve years he spent at United. His best record was in the 2021-2022 season, where the goalkeeper saved 3 penalties. Other than that, he saved one penalty in two other seasons, in 22-23 and 14-15.
He is already on track to beat his record with his new team, as he already has two saves in just six games with the Serie A team. Three if you also count the penalty he saved in the shootout against Puskas FC at the Conference League qualification final.
Other Notable Performances with La Viola
It wasn’t just the game against Milan. Before, De Gea saved a penalty in the shootout against Puskas. In that game, he also made eight total saves, helping Fiorentina get to the respective shootout.
He delivered another outstanding performance in Fiorentina’s only other win of the season, against Lazio. He made five total saves and prevented 0,31 of Lazio’s xG of 1,05. So far in the season, he averages 4,25 saves per game, which places him in the top 7% of goalkeepers in Serie A.
De Gea’s story is happy. After spending twelve years with Manchester United, Erik ten Hag kicked him out. He stayed off the pitch for an entire year before making his comeback with Fiorentina. As he himself said, “Started in Spain, made in Manchester, loving it in Italy 💜.”.
