David de Gea reveals he barely saw his family during Manchester United stint | OneFootball

Speaking in an interview with Foot Arena (via TuttoMercatoWeb), Fiorentina goalkeeper David De Gea opened up about his decision to move to Serie A and the emotional motivations behind it. The Spaniard revealed that living and playing in Italy had always been one of his biggest dreams, and that the move came at the right stage of his career.

“I always wanted to live and play in Italy. It has always been one of my dreams,” De Gea said. “Fiorentina are a great club with incredible facilities. The Viola Park played a big part in my decision.”

The Spaniard also spoke about the sabbatical he took after the exit from Manchester United, revealing he only wanted to play in the top leagues.

“During my sabbatical, I trained and felt ready and didn’t have to prove myself. The only thing I wanted was to return to competing and playing in a top league; other leagues weren’t for me.”

De Gea also spoke candidly about the personal challenges he faced during his long spell at Manchester United, admitting that distance from his loved ones took a toll.

“In Manchester I didn’t see my family for long stretches of time. It was tough, but it was part of being at the highest level,” he explained.

Now settled in Florence, De Gea seems intent on enjoying a new chapter defined as much by quality of life as by football itself — a balance that eluded him in England.

Kaustubh Pandey I GIFN