Manchester United officially announces an award for De Gea! 70,000 fans will pay tribute, as those who dismissed him have all left.

Manchester United has announced that this Saturday, during a friendly match against Fiorentina at home, legendary goalkeeper David De Gea will return to Old Trafford. The club has confirmed that a ceremony to honor De Gea's 12 years with the club will take place before the match, hosted by captain Bruno Fernandes, just before kickoff.

The 34-year-old De Gea joined Manchester United in 2011 for a transfer fee of £18 million from Atletico Madrid, having been handpicked by Sir Alex Ferguson to succeed Van der Sar. During his time with the team, De Gea made 545 appearances and won 5 major trophies, including one Premier League title, and he holds the record for winning the club's Player of the Year award four times.

During Manchester United's lowest times, De Gea repeatedly protected the team with miraculous saves, setting a record for 14 saves in a single Premier League match, earning him the nickname "Daddy Duck." Fans often said, "Beautiful in the front, De Gea in the back." While one might argue that replacing De Gea was a necessary update, not giving him a proper farewell is certainly unjust.

De Gea's contract with Manchester United expired in the summer of 2023, and he left the team as a free agent. At that time, the club had initially agreed to extend his contract, with the Spanish goalkeeper accepting a pay cut to £200,000. However, Ten Hag suddenly changed his mind, leading Manchester United to withdraw the contract offer.

Afterward, De Gea spent a year away from professional football, joining Fiorentina on a free transfer last summer. He performed exceptionally well there, helping the Italian club reach the semifinals of the Europa Conference League last season. Meanwhile, Manchester United spent €50 million to sign Ten Hag's preferred player, André Onana, but the 29-year-old Cameroonian goalkeeper made several mistakes, causing some fans to miss De Gea.

Now, the two have a chance to face off this weekend, provided Onana recovers in time. He has not participated in any of this summer's friendlies due to a hamstring injury sustained at the start of training. His future is also uncertain, with rumors suggesting Manchester United may sign another goalkeeper. Young Belgian talent Lamine, Aston Villa's Argentine international Emiliano Martínez, and PSG's Gianluigi Donnarumma have all been linked with the Red Devils.

Manchester United's announcement to honor De Gea is seen as a long-overdue tribute. The Spanish goalkeeper did not even get a chance to say goodbye to the Old Trafford fans before he was dismissed. In contrast, players like Martial and Varane, who contributed less to the club, were able to leave to applause at the Theatre of Dreams.

Now, this regret will be addressed. Those who were responsible for De Gea's departure, including Ten Hag and Ed Woodward, have all left the club, and no one will oppose the arrangements to honor him. Old Trafford fans will give a warm round of applause and cheers to De Gea as he returns to the pitch, even though he will be wearing the "Viola" jersey.

A few days ago, Manchester United revealed that over 50,000 tickets for Saturday's match have already been sold, and it is expected to be a full house. Many fans may be eager to see new signings Mbeumo and Cunha play in their first match for Manchester United at home, and they look forward to seeing Hesketh, but undoubtedly, De Gea will also have his moment in the spotlight. "See you on Saturday at Manchester United," De Gea wrote on social media.

Red Devils captain Bruno Fernandes welcomed him in a video, saying: "David, my friend, I can't wait to see you at the Snapdragon Cup. I hope you enjoy returning to Old Trafford, seeing your fans, your pitch, your home. At the same time, I hope to score a few goals in the match against you. Let's enjoy the day together! See you soon, my friend."

Although De Gea and Bruno Fernandes are no longer teammates, they are business partners, having invested together in a gaming team. In response to Bruno's message, De Gea replied, "See you then."

The Snapdragon Cup match between Manchester United and Fiorentina this Saturday at 19:45 will be the last warm-up match before the season. The Premier League will officially kick off on August 17, with the Red Devils facing Arsenal at home in the first round.