Former Manchester United goalkeeper David De Gea has made a comeback to football, signing a one-year contract with Serie A club Fiorentina.

De Gea, who was released from Manchester United in the summer of 2023 after a 12-year stint, spent the past year without a club before deciding to join the Italian side.

During his time at Old Trafford, De Gea made 545 appearances and was an integral part of the squad that secured the club’s last Premier League title in 2013. His departure from United marked the end of an era, and the Spanish shot-stopper admitted that adjusting to life away from the club was challenging.

“United is a top, top club and my heart will always be there. I never thought about retiring; it was just difficult to find motivation for a new chapter after 12 years at a top club like Man United… and I finally felt that at Fiorentina,” De Gea said.

De Gea revealed that he took a sabbatical to regain his focus and motivation but remained committed to staying fit and ready for his return. “I spent a year in Manchester before returning to Madrid. I wanted to stay at a high level. I didn’t stop. It’s not easy to train alone. I spent two years in Manchester, it’s my home. That’s where my heart is set,” he added.

Reflecting on his year-long break, De Gea shared that he remained in top physical condition, training even more rigorously than before. “I am fit, I trained every day, even more than before. I am on a good level. Perhaps it will take some time in the first games, but I’ve been playing for many years, so you just need to put me in goal,” he said confidently.