A collective wave of groans echoed throughout the Stadio Artemio Franchi as the referee pointed to the spot. A quick passing combination had released Christian Pulisic into space as he darted towards goal. Despite losing his balance, the American was able to swiftly direct the ball towards Tijjani Reijnders before he was fouled by Luca Ranieri — penalty to A.C Milan. Fiorentina’s early graft for a 1–0 lead now seemed pointless as Theo Hernandez steadied himself at the spot. Opposite him stood the ever-controversial, perpetually misunderstood, generational icon David De Gea, this time without the shadow of expectations of Old Trafford or comparisons to Iker Casillas. De Gea stood alone, poised between his posts. Jeering whistles and a hush of anticipation were followed by a powerful strike to the bottom right that was palmed away acrobatically as purple shirts engulfed the veteran goalkeeper.
Saving a penalty is a headline in itself, such as Emiliano Martinez’s World Cup heroics or Manuel Neuer’s denial of Cristiano Ronaldo and Ricardo Kaká in the 2012 Champions League semi-finals. Moreover, it can define a career. Saving two in a single game is historic. On Oct. 6 or Matchday 7 in Serie A, De Gea starred by saving two Milan penalties in Fiorentina’s memorable 2–1 victory. This is the Spaniard’s first campaign since leaving Manchester United in 2023 after 12 seasons, the latter half of which was stained by constant criticism and periods of unsettlement.
De Gea’s heroics on Oct. 6 offered a glimpse into the sensational talent that was scouted by Sir Alex Ferguson in 2011. As heir to Edwin Van der Sar and emerging during the twilight years of Spain’s elite goalkeeper trio of Casillas, Pepe Reina and Victor Valdés, De Gea was fast-tracked with responsibility for club and country. In a position that demands maturity, composure and discipline, De Gea soon blossomed from a promising talent into the world’s best.
Despite stellar individual feats, De Gea failed to win trophies for Spain and at United. The Spanish golden generation peaked between 2008 and 2012 and United has never been the same since Ferguson’s departure. What’s shocking is that De Gea won the Premier League Golden Glove and shattered Peter Scmiechel’s club clean sheet record the season he departed after failing to agree to a new contract. 545 appearances later, he found himself on the fringes of a club with a manager igniting feuds with players like Jadon Sancho and Ronaldo.
At Fiorentina, De Gea seems comfortable. As a free agent, he took a year off before stepping into the spotlight again. With only five games under his belt, De Gea has kept one clean sheet and is averaging 1.25 conceded goals per game with a 77.3% save percentage. But, it’s his match-winning ability that truly defines him. After his penalty saves in the Milan match, De Gea was called into action again with a fizzing deflected shot from Samuel Chukwueze in the 85th minute, highlighting his phenomenal reflexes and reaction time. The ball was whipped through a moving crowd and bounced before De Gea parried it with his right glove.
The Spaniard has thrived in the fine margins that decide games for over a decade and is now reminding the world of his abilities. In an era where goalkeepers are considered ball-playing distributors, De Gea represents the vintage shot-stopper infused with astonishing agility that matches the speed of the modern game. Still only 33, the once scrawny youth prospect for Atlético Madrid might be writing the beginnings of a deserved and promising final chapter in his illustrious career.
