MADRID, 8 Jul. (EUROPA PRESS) –
The Spanish goalkeeper David de Gea has confirmed that he is leaving Manchester United after twelve seasons with the team, ready to undertake “a new challenge” at the “right time”, and has expressed his “gratitude and appreciation” to all the fans of the ‘red devils’, whom he will carry in his “heart”.
“I just wanted to send this farewell message to all Manchester United fans,” he announced in a statement posted on his social media. “Now is the right time to take on a new challenge, to gain momentum again in a new environment. Manchester will always be in my heart, Manchester has shaped me and will never leave me,” he added.
The 32-year-old goalkeeper from Madrid joined Old Trafford from Atlético de Madrid in the 2011-12 season, led by the then coach of the ‘Red Devils’, Sir Alex Ferguson. In total, he has played 545 games with the Mancunian team in 12 seasons.
“I would like to express my unwavering gratitude and appreciation for the love of the last 12 years. We have achieved a lot since my dear Sir Alex Ferguson brought me to this club. I took immense pride every time I put on this shirt, every time I led the team and represented this entity, because playing with the biggest club in the world is an honor that is only given to a few lucky footballers,” he said.
In this sense, De Gea acknowledged that he has lived through an “unforgettable and successful” stage. “I didn’t think that leaving Madrid as a child we would achieve what we did together,” he said, addressing the fans.