Manchester United officially announced the "De Gea farewell match"! Returning to the Theatre of Dreams for the first time since leaving the team, fans are ready to pay tribute

Former Manchester United goalkeeper David De Gea is set to return to Old Trafford this summer, and the 34-year-old Spanish goalkeeper is not joining the Red Devils again. Fiorentina are ready to extend his contract for another season with double wages, and the team have confirmed a warm-up game away from Manchester United this summer.

The last time United played Fiorentina was in the 1999/2000 Champions League group stage, when Fiorentina won 2-0 at home to Batistuta before getting back on revenge 3-1 at Old Trafford, with goals from York, Roy Keane and Andy Cole.

The two teams meet again after 25 years, which also means that De Gea, who has played more than 500 times at Manchester United for 12 years between 2011 and 2023, will have the first chance to play at the Theatre of Dreams again. Manchester United fans are ready to welcome him back and pay their respects. Two years ago, Manchester United reversed their offer to renew his contract and David De Gea was forced to leave the club, leaving the fans without a chance to say a proper goodbye.

Players like Anthony Martial were greeted with applause from the Old Trafford crowd before leaving, while David De Gea did not, much to the dismay of both him and the fans. In the pre-season warm-up match between Manchester United and Fiorentina on 9 August, the home fans will take the opportunity to thank David De Gea, who has been voted the club's Man of the Year award four times.

That game will also be United's last game before the start of the new season, and the 34-year-old will be in action if there are no surprises. A Manchester United fan quickly completed the ticket purchase and said: "We will make this game a memorial match for him, De Gea will return to Old Trafford, we will all go!"

In the past, players who have been with United for 10 years have been scheduled for a charity memorial game, but after Phil Jones and the pandemic, that tradition has been abandoned. Carrick became the last player to win the farewell match, and Antonio Valencia also had no chance after that. Manchester United's warm-up match against Fiorentina must have been factored into De Gea's consideration. On De Gea, whether they agree with the club's purge or not, most United fans are of the same opinion: "It's time to finally give De Gea the farewell he deserves."

After David De Gea's departure, many United fans found it difficult to find a goalkeeper to replace him. Andre Onana, who joined for 50 million euros, did not play the legendary level of passing, and made a lot of mistakes, rumours could be purged, and his replacement even included De Gea at one point!

After a year's absence from Manchester United, De Gea only joined Fiorentina last year and has enjoyed a fine season with the Purple Lily finishing eighth in Serie A and a chance to win the UEFA Cup.

De Gea reflects on his year away from professional football: "After many years of playing at the highest level, I just want to relax for a while. Perhaps, it was the best period of my life. I can finally enjoy spending time with my family and friends, who I have rarely seen in the last 15 years. I had to go back and forth between Madrid and Manchester, testing my body and mind."

Manchester United legend Sheringham suggested that Onana should keep a low profile and play football with his mouth shut. "Onana is passionate, I appreciate that, but football is not about what you have done in the past or what you are going to do in the future, it's about the result and the performance on the pitch. Sometimes you need to keep your mouth shut, and if you can, talk less and do more."