Jadon Sancho and Tom Heaton have already joined United, with Raphael Varane getting ever closer to completing a move to Old Trafford.
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Manchester United goalkeeper David De Gea had only positive words to describe the club’s new summer signings. Jadon Sancho and Tom Heaton have already joined the United dressing room in the summer, with Raphael Varane getting ever closer to completing a move to the red half of Manchester. Having been at Old Trafford for a decade now, De Gea said that he is “delighted” with the new additions. Speaking to club media ahead of the season kick-off this weekend, the goalkeeper said, “It’s always a pleasure to welcome new faces and quality players to add to the group, it’s always a positive. We still have the odd player to join up with the group, but [I’m] delighted with the new signings.”
Among the new recruits, the one player that De Gea will likely spend the most time with this season is fellow goalkeeper Heaton. The 35-year-old English goalkeeper has returned to his boyhood club on a free transfer earlier this summer. They have already trained together in the time since De Gea returned for pre-season during last week’s training camp in Scotland.
“[I’m especially excited to welcome] Tom, the keeper, who I’m with a lot of more of the time,” he added. “He’s a great bloke and a top keeper. He’s really going to bring a lot to the group and let’s hope it’s the same with the rest of the signings too. They have great quality and I reckon that it’ll be easy for them to settle in.”
Last Saturday was the 10-year anniversary of the Spaniard’s debut in the 2011 Community Shield. He marked it by keeping a clean sheet in the 4-0 friendly victory over Everton at Old Trafford. He has 441 competitive matches to his name.
“It’s been a lot of years at the club and a great source of pride for me to have been able to play for a club like Manchester United for so many seasons now,” explains the shot stopper.
“But you have to live in the present, I think I still have a lot of years ahead of me at the club, I’m excited about that, feeling strong and I’m very keen to do well. I feel great in myself, high in confidence and I think it should be – and has to be – an important season for all of us.”
10 years ago today I debuted at @ManUtd . Today I enjoyed the beginning of my 11th season at Old Trafford as a Red Devil ? Let’s keep rocking ?? pic.twitter.com/Qztgqc1A5F
— David de Gea (@D_DeGea) August 7, 2021
De Gea’s Manchester United debut was a thrilling 3-2 win over rivals Manchester City at Wembley Stadium. On that day, Sir Alex Ferguson’s Reds came from two goals down. Joleon Lescott and Eden Dzeko had put the Blues ahead by half-time. But thanks to Chris Smalling’s goal and a brace from Nani in the second half, the club won the match in a remarkable fashion.
“I remember that I arrived here as a kid of 20 and went straight into the United goal in a ‘Super Cup’ final at Wembley,” recalls David De Gea. “It was a very special moment. But I recall we went two-nil down in the first half and then the gaffer made the three changes and in the second period we came back, with that amazing goal from Nani right at the end.
“Our fans there were incredible. It was an unforgettable moment, and we were fortunate enough to win and start the season off on the right foot, so yes, it was a great occasion.”
David De Gea also stated that his debut match gave him a glimpse of the never-say-die attitude with the Old Trafford outfit. “Yes it did. Right from the word go you get the feeling that even if you are two or three-nil down, the team will just keep fighting and maintain that intensity right to the end and can turn any game around,” he added.
“That’s a fact and historically this club has always done this. We’ve turned lots of games around at the death, scoring the winning goal in the final seconds. That day was no different, ending with a late winner.”
