De Gea cools Madrid reports, wants to become a legend at United
David De Gea has cooled reports of a move to Real Madrid and insists he wants to win trophies at Manchester United and become a legend for the club.
De Gea came close to making a summer switch to the Bernabeu before an 11th hour administrative error saw the move fail to go through before the deadline in Spain.
After starting the season out of the United side on the back of the Real Madrid speculation, De Gea was recalled to the team for the 3-1 win over Liverpool in September and De Gea – speaking exclusively to Sky Sports – recalled the ear-splitting reception he received from the home fans as his name was announced before kick-off.
"I cannot describe how I felt in that moment," De Gea said.
"In another country, at another club, the fans would not be the same as at Manchester United. They are some of the best in the world, it was unbelievable."
De Gea since went on to sign a new long-term contract with United, and although links to Real Madrid continue to resurface, the goalkeeper has indicated that he's settled at Old Trafford and sees his long-term future at the club.
"I'm happy, I'm enjoying it and I believe in the team," said De Gea, not sounding like a man on his way. In fact, when asked about the feats of Peter Schmeichel and Edwin van der Sar, he sounded like a man ready to dedicate at least the next few seasons of his career to the club.
"They were the greatest goalkeepers in the Premier League, they are legends for this club and that is what I want."
In keeping De Gea, United clung on to a man close being the best in the world in his position and a man with the hunger to get even better.
"I train every day to be the best goalkeeper in the world, that is my aim," said the stopper who this week finished behind only Manuel Neuer in the voting for the FIFPro World XI.
"I'm not sure who the best is now, but it's what I want. Also, to win trophies for Manchester United."
It's easy to forget now that De Gea's early days at United were dogged by high-profile errors and criticism. He thought about leaving back then, at a time when there wouldn't have been anything like the same clamor for him to stay.
"The early days were difficult, there were some moments when I thought, 'This is not the place for me, I need to go back to Spain'," said De Gea, talking of a time when a mistake against Blackburn back in 2011 cost his team the game and him his place in the side.
"But I worked hard, in the gym and on the pitch. And I fight, I fight a lot."
