David De Gea Returns Old Trafford For Fiorentina Farewell

David de Gea returned to Old Trafford for the first time since his departure from Manchester United in 2023, receiving an emotional and warm reception from fans and former teammates. Despite being unceremoniously replaced by André Onana, De Gea expressed no hard feelings about the manner of his exit, describing his 12 years at United as one of the best periods of his life and emphasizing his gratitude to the club. On his return during a pre-season friendly where Fiorentina played Manchester United to a 1-1 draw, De Gea was honored with a special on-pitch presentation recognizing his 545 appearances for the club. The match ended with a penalty shootout victory for United, where Altay Bayindir notably saved a decisive penalty amid Onana's ongoing injury recovery. De Gea, now with Fiorentina until 2028 after signing a contract extension, reflected on the difficulty of leaving such a significant club but felt the farewell was a memorable closure to his United career. Meanwhile, United's decision to replace him with Onana has been questioned, given Onana's injury troubles and performances since joining.