David De Gea endures NIGHTMARE return to football 446 days after last game as Man Utd icon makes Fiorentina debut

DAVID DE GEA’s hotly anticipated return to football began with a NIGHTMARE.

The former Manchester United goalkeeper was named in Serie A side Fiorentina’s starting XI for the first time on Thursday after sealing a free transfer at the start of August.

Getty

Getty

Rex

Having last conceded to Ilkay Gundogan in a 2-1 FA Cup defeat in May 2023 – 446 days ago – De Gea surrendered two early goals in the Europa Conference League play-offs.

Against a team most football fans will never have heard of – Puskas Academy, from Hungary.

Albeit the first goal was an ninth minute penalty.

But the former United stopper then swallowed another one in the 12th minute to put his side 2-0 down.

Fans couldn’t help themselves but poke fun at poor De Gea after watching his horror start.

One wrote: “De Gea never changed, 11 minutes bro has already shallowed 2 goals.”

Another posted a screenshot of the scoreline, writing: “Oh boy my favourite goalie David De Gea finally got himself signed by a club! let’s check in on how he’s doing on his debut against hungarian plumbers…”

A third added: “Some things just never change.”

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However, other United fans were kinder, admitting it feels strange seeing De Gea in a different shirt.

One wrote: “Seeing De Gea wear another club’s jersey feels so weird not gonna lie.”

A second slammed: “How are so called fans slandering De Gea for conceding goals The guys a legend of our club get a grip.”

Puskas Academy were only founded in 2005 and finished third in the Hungarian top division last season.

And, fortunately for De Gea, his new team-mates managed to turn things around.

Riccardo Sottil pulled one back for the home side before half-time.

Lucas Martinez Quarta and Moise Kean then put Fiorentina ahead in the second half.

However, the Hungarians stunned the Artemio Franchi stadium at the death as Wojciech Golla netted to level the thrilling tie 3-3.

De Gea, 34, signed a one-year contract including the option of a further 12 months with Fiorentina.

And boss Raffaele Palladino admitted the Spaniard needed time to get back in the swing of things after so long out.

The Fiorentina coach said: “He needed to adapt after a year of working separately.

“He has brought great professionalism and worked a lot.”

The goalkeeper left United when his contract expired at the end of the 2022/23 season, bringing to an end a 12-year stay at Old Trafford.

He joined United from Atletico Madrid in 2011 and during this 12-year tenure at the club made 545 appearances.

Seeing De Gea wear another club’s jersey feels so weird not gonna lie.

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During his time at the club, he broke Peter Schmeichel’s all-time United record for clean sheets and became the highest appearance-maker for a goalkeeper.

The Spaniard won five major trophies during his time in Manchester including the Premier League title in 2013, the FA Cup in 2016 and the Europa League in 2017.

De Gea amassed several individual honours, including the Premier League Golden Glove in both the 2017-18 and 2022-23 seasons.

Additionally, he was recognised as Manchester United’s Player of the Year for three straight seasons from 2013 to 2016.

Fiorentina finished eighth in Serie A last term and reached the Europa Conference League final for the second year running but were beaten by Olympiacos.

They fell to West Ham in the 2022/23 season after Prem star Jarrod Bowen scored a 90th minute winner to seal a first European trophy since 1965 for the Hammers.