Anwar Ibrahim (Cairo)
Spanish goalkeeper David de Gea of Manchester United is preparing to face his former club, Atletico Madrid, on Wednesday evening, in the first leg of the Champions League round of 16, which will be held at the Wanda Metropolitan Stadium, the stronghold of Atletico in the Spanish capital, Madrid, where he grew up and played for “Al-Rukhi Blancos” before heading to England to play for the “Red Devils”.
De Gea had never played against his former team, in the 11 years he spent with United. When De Gea was asked if he was thinking of returning to play in Spain, specifically for his former club, he said: I will not leave Manchester United and I intend to stay there for as long as possible, and I am not thinking of going anywhere else. De Gea added, “I love the fact that I was born in Madrid, but it’s just a city, and now I have the impression that I’m from Manchester, and I don’t feel like I belong to anyone else.. Here I have been loved and received wonderfully by me.. Here I feel at home.” He continued, “I’ve been here for many years. It’s true that everything can happen in life, especially football, but I honestly don’t see myself anywhere other than Manchester United.”
Despite declaring his adherence to and his association with Manchester United, he also confirmed that he feels that he is still linked to “Al Rokhi Blancos”. “I’m going back to Madrid for this match, I’m going back to the club that gave me the opportunity to be the person I am,” he commented.
De Gea said: “In any case, I wish the best for Atletico, but I don’t know if facing my former team was a ‘good omen’ or a ‘bad omen’.” De Gea admitted at the end of his statements, saying: “It is certain that everyone on both sides is trying to win this match, and the first of them is me.”
It is mentioned that David de Gea, born on November 7, 1990, graduated in the junior stages under 15, 17 and 19 years old in Atletico Madrid, and was promoted to the reserve team of Atletico in the season 08/2009 and then the first team in 2009, and continued with him until the summer of 2011 when he moved to England and signed for Manchester United for 5.17 million euros for the Atleti, and a salary of 12 million euros annually. De Gea was also included in the Spanish youth and youth teams until he was promoted to the first team in 2014.