Manchester United goalkeeper David de Gea has revealed he cannot see himself moving away from Old Trafford ahead of facing his former side Atletico Madrid.
The Madrid native will face his boyhood club for the first time since his 2011 move to United on Wednesday in their Champions League last-16 tie.
Despite returning to his hometown, the Spaniard claimed he now considers himself a Manchester local and suggested he intends to stay at United.
Man United goalkeeper David de Gea cannot see himself moving away from Old Trafford
‘I like the fact I was born in Madrid, but at the end of the day, it’s just a city,’ he told UEFA.
‘Now I feel as if I’m from Manchester; I just feel like anyone else from Manchester. Where you are loved and welcomed is your home.
‘I’ve been here for many years and, obviously, anything can happen in life, in the world of football, but honestly I don’t see myself away from Manchester United.
The 31-year-old will face his former side Atletico Madrid this week in the Champions League
‘Of course, I’m going back home [for this tie], I’m going back to the club that gave me the opportunity to be who I am today. But this is just another match.
‘Everyone wants to play well, we want to win, it is a Champions League match.
‘Obviously, I wish Atletico all the best, but I don’t know whether the fact we’re playing them is a good or bad omen. Everyone is going there to win, especially me.’
The 31-year-old’s contract at Old Trafford is set to expire in 2023 but his comments appear to suggest he is open to an extension.
The Spaniard’s contract at United is set to expire in 2023 but he suggested he wants to stay
De Gea broke through at Atletico but could face a mixed welcome after he almost made the move to rivals Real Madrid in 2015.
He claimed he owed his self-belief and mental strength to his breakthrough as a teenager at Atletico.
‘At that moment, I was kind of the third-choice goalkeeper [behind Sergio Asenjo and Roberto],’ he said.
‘I have always believed in myself, I used to train a lot and just tried to prove: “I am here, I may be young but I’m good enough”.
De Gea claimed he owed his self-belief and mental strength to his breakthrough as a teenager
‘I tried to do my best, and then, it was fortunate for me but unfortunate for Roberto that he got injured and I got the chance to prove that I was good enough.
‘When Quique [Sanchez Flores] arrived, the team changed. We won game after game, and there was a moment when Asenjo and I were both available and he chose me. I played nearly every game.
‘We made it to the final of the UEFA Europa League, and we won it. We also made it to the final of the Copa del Rey. We lost, but at least we made it to the final. And then we won the UEFA Super Cup against that great Inter side.’
