Fiorentine goalkeeper De Gea was interviewed recently and was asked about several topics about Manchester United.

—Not participating in professional competitions for a whole year, this is a brave choice.

"It's one of the best years of my life. I turned down offers from England because after all these years at a club like Manchester United, you'll feel like you don't want to play for another club in England. I just want Manchester United, I do get offers from England, and I know I can't play somewhere else for my heart."

"I spent most of my life there, and it was this club that shapes me and gave me a wonderful career. I felt it was time to take a break and come back with a stronger posture. People asked me, 'When are you back?' I reassure everyone: 'I'm fine, now I'm back.' It is normal for people to have doubts after a year off, but I am sure after a game or two I will return to the same as before. ”

-We talked about Manchester, and I have to mention Sir Ferguson to you. He missed two games in his career, one for his son’s wedding and the other for his on-site inspection and signing you. He couldn't have chosen the wrong successor to Van der Sar...

"I read this stat! It's interesting, just to watch me play football. Imagine. Because of this, I believe he is the father of everyone, despite his very strict requirements. But his presence is incredible, as is his anger at halftime when the team is not doing well. He will come in and get furious. To this day I still talk to him. I believe that even if it's not the best coach of all time, he is undoubtedly one of the best."

- Are there any anecdotes between you and him?

"I remember a conversation before the game. We were in a difficult season, but in the locker room he used me as an example and said in front of everyone: 'Look at David, he was a kid when he came, and now he is the number one goalkeeper.' At the time Ferdinand, Rooney and all the Manchester United big names were there. It was an amazing infusion of confidence."

- And the time you were accused of... stealing in the supermarket?

"It's really irritating! They accused me of stealing some donuts. Ferguson arranged training that day. On my way to the training center, the news and my photos appeared in the newspaper. There were also on TV. I was speechless: they accused me of stealing...donuts in a supermarket in Manchester! It was like that in England, and it felt like the end of the world. People only talked about it, just for a donut."

"Obviously this wasn't true, and they apologized to me, but to let you see how much Sir Ferguson looked like a father: that day he walked into the locker room silently, with a serious expression, and took out a box of donuts on the table. 'Take it, David', he said to me. We all burst into laughter. A simple move that made you really fit into the team."

- Eric Steele), your goalkeeper coach, is also an important figure.

"Yes, absolutely. The goalkeeper coach is the most important and closest to the goalkeeper, because he has been a goalkeeper and can understand you. He has done a lot of work with me, especially when I first came, because I was thin (and now, but even more so at that time), so we did a lot of work on the physical level, and he always sent me to the gym. We had some tug-of-wars, but the results showed up."

- Did you want to stay in Manchester?

"The fans still send me messages. I have been there for so many years, and that's my home: I'm willing to stay there for the rest of my life. But soccer is: something you'll never expect will happen. It's like having the chance to come here in Florence."