Aheed Abrar
David de Gea gives verdict on “crazy” 500 Manchester United appearances milestone
Manchester United goalkeeper David de Gea is in line to make 500 appearances for the Red Devils if he plays against Newcastle United. The Old Trafford side will welcome the Magpies to the Theatre of Dreams on 16 October in the Premier League.
The Spanish shot-stopper has been a constant in between the sticks for Man United this season. And an appearance against Eddie Howe’s team will mark a major record for the 31-year-old.
Speaking to the club’s official website (h/t Manchester Evening News) ahead of the match at Old Trafford, De Gea feels it is a “crazy” achievement to play 500 games for Man United. But the 31-year-old admits it will hit him more after he retires.
“I think it’s something crazy. To play 500 games for this club is very special for me, of course, but probably I will realise more when I stop playing football, when I retire and then look back and say ‘OK, I played more than 500 games for a massive club like United’.”
De Gea joined the Red Devils from Atletico Madrid in the summer of 2011. And the Spaniard was an important member of the Old Trafford side under Sir Alex Ferguson that last won the Premier League in the 2012/13 campaign.
The 31-year-old has developed into one of the finest goalkeepers over the years. There was a point in his career when fans hailed the shot-stopper as the best in the world.
However, De Gea has experienced a few setbacks in his Man United career over the years. After the 2018 World Cup in Russia, the Spaniard seemed to have lost his confidence. And supporters felt the 31-year-old’s time at the club was nearing its end.
But De Gea has managed to once again establish himself at Man United. In the previous campaign, the Spaniard retained his number-one spot in goal and was a bright spark for us in a rather disappointing season.
De Gea had a shaky start to the campaign this term. Fortunately, the 31-year-old has managed to bounce back. The Spaniard has shown his qualities with brilliant saves against the likes of Liverpool, Leicester City and Arsenal.
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Ryan Giggs holds the record for most appearances, 963, for the Red Devils. De Gea is a long way off from that. However, the Spaniard has been a loyal servant for the Old Trafford side over the years.
