Little currently links Manchester City and Puskas Akademia, but that could change by the end of this week.
There is a rather obvious gap between the four-times reigning Premier League champions and the team that finished third in Hungary’s top flight last season. But — some might comedically add —not as sizeable as the one that currently sits in David De Gea’s CV between the dates of June 2023 and August 2024.
City were the last team that De Gea faced as Manchester United’s No.1. Not since the FA Cup final 14 and a half months ago has the Spaniard been seen in a competitive game. Which is quite remarkable given that he has had no injury to speak of but simply a self-imposed break in his career.
Thursday’s Europa Conference League Play-off, first leg against Puskas Akademia could complete the circle and bring about the 33-year-old goalkeeper’s debut for Fiorentina, the club that he signed for a few weeks ago on a free transfer.
Should De Gea start at the Stadio Artemio Franchi, then all eyes will be on the former United ‘keeper. Not least because his arrival in Florence has immediately seen him top the club’s salary scale by quite some margin, but because his first action after an unorthodox sabbatical is eagerly anticipated.
Following United’s 2-1 defeat to City in that FA Cup final at Wembley, it was always expected that Erik ten Hag, ahead of what would be his second season as manager, would recruit a new goalkeeper. His inaugural season in English football had seen him fielding questions concerning De Gea’s ability to meet the Dutchman’s demands regarding playing the ball out from the back.
Ten Hag wanted a ball-playing goalkeeper and duly signed Inter Milan’s Andre Onana, who he had previously worked with at Ajax, meaning that after 12 seasons and over 500 appearances, De Gea’s time at United was at an end.
There may have been debate concerning De Gea’s suitability at the club, though it should be remembered that De Gea collected the Premier League Golden Glove award in his final campaign and was a recipient of the club’s Player of the Year award on four occasions during his time in Manchester.
There was no cliff edge drop-off in form either, rather just that Ten Hag wanted something a little different.
De Gea was renowned for his brilliant reflexes, a shot-stopper in the truest sense, but being the instigator of attacks was something that he had to work harder at mastering and never did so with true confidence. Given the ubiquitous changes in style that placed a lot more onus on goalkeepers' footwork, it led to De Gea — rather harshly — being characterised as a sort of relic.
Even if he was not able to perform a job for Ten Hag’s United, the expectation was that he would swiftly be taken by another club, possibly even in the Premier League, but nothing came to pass.
There were some murmurings of a possible return to his native Spain. Yet, De Gea had also lost his place as the national team’s No.1 when Luis Enrique opted for a more sure-footed, sweeper-keeper of his own in Unai Simon. Some teams may have been put off by the depiction of a player past his best. But, really, it was the difficulty of any club meeting his wage demands that proved decisive in no deal being reached.
So, instead, De Gea entered voluntary, professional exile. During which he always felt that he would return to the top level of the game and retirement was never an option. He trained and kept himself fit behind closed doors — nevertheless, he was out of sight and therefore out of mind.
Serie A are fond of experienced 'keepers
That was until Fiorentina enquired about his services during the summer and, finally, his year-long break without a club ended. They have obtained a goalkeeper who is still in good nick, looks as lean as he did in his final days at United and remains equally competitive.
What helps is that the Italian game is well-acquainted with older stars, particularly in goal, and never shy in assisting in a cast-off. Pepe Reina is just over a week away from turning 42 but is Como’s No.1 in their season back in Serie A. Veteran ‘keeper Gianluigi Buffon was 45 when he finally hung up his gloves at Parma a few seasons back.
The man who De Gea has to get past is Pietro Terracciano, who has been Fiorentina’s first-choice goalkeeper for the past three seasons and is eight months older than the Spaniard. The club’s new manager, Raffaele Palladino, has two ‘keepers with experience on their side.
De Gea was on the bench for the first league game of the campaign last weekend when Fiorentina drew 1-1 with Parma but it feels as though his return to the field of play is imminent.
Whether any rust has set in during the past 14 months or so will become clear should he be given his debut this midweek in a competition that Fiorentina have been runners-up in for the past two seasons.
De Gea’s new home city is famous for being the birthplace of the Renaissance and the 33-year-old will hope it has a similar effect in reviving a playing career that has been on hold for longer than expected.
