Challenges Faced by David de Gea: Obstacles and Turning Points

Life is full of challenges, and David de Gea faced many. Discover key struggles and how they were overcome.

David de Gea is a Spanish professional footballer renowned for his goalkeeping abilities. He currently plays for Serie A club Fiorentina. De Gea is widely regarded as one of the best goalkeepers of his generation, known for his exceptional reflexes, agility, and shot-stopping skills. His career has been marked by high-profile performances, establishing him as a top player in his position.

Sections (5)

Full Timeline Early Life & Education Career & Achievements Success & Recognition Challenges & Struggles

1966: A Record Since 1966

In 2018, David de Gea ended the tournament having conceded six goals from seven shots on target, excluding the four goals he conceded in the penalty-shootout; with only one save, he recorded fewer saves than any other goalkeeper who had played at least three matches in a single edition of the tournament since 1966.

2009: Loan Move Approaches Rejected

In the summer of 2009, De Gea rejected loan move approaches from Numancia and Queens Park Rangers, and was briefly punished for it.

October 2011: Difficult Match Against Manchester City

In October 2011, De Gea was in goal when Manchester United suffered a heavy defeat against Manchester City.

October 2011: Manchester United's heaviest Premier League defeat since the 6–1 loss against Manchester City

In October 2011, De Gea was part of the Manchester United team which lost 4–0 to Chelsea, their heaviest Premier League defeat since the 6–1 loss against Manchester City.

2012: Return to Starting Line-Up and Mixed Performances

In 2012, De Gea returned to Manchester United's starting line-up after the Olympics, delivering some outstanding saves but also experiencing misunderstandings that led to goals.

January 2013: Criticism for Tottenham Match

In January 2013, De Gea received criticism for a punch that allowed Tottenham to score.

January 2014: 100th Appearance for Manchester United and League Cup Semi-Final

In January 2014, De Gea made his 100th appearance for Manchester United and was deemed at fault in the League Cup semi-final second leg against Sunderland.

August 2015: Transfer to Real Madrid Collapses

In August 2015, a transfer agreement between Manchester United and Real Madrid for David de Gea collapsed due to paperwork issues before the transfer window closed.

April 2016: Penalty Drought

From April 2016 to September 2021, David de Gea did not save a single penalty, which is a challenges on his effectiveness at stopping penalties.

2018: Played in FIFA World Cup 2018

In 2018, De Gea was selected for the FIFA World Cup, but received criticism for his performance.

2018: Loss of Form

In 2018, Jonathan Wilson noted that sweeping was not a natural part of his game, and that his tendency to sit deeper with Manchester United in comparison to his position with Spain, who play with a higher line, was one of his reasons for his loss of form since his poor and error–prone performances at the 2018 World Cup.

2018: Performances with Manchester United and Spain

In 2018, Wilson felt that De Gea's unremarkable passing and lack of confidence with the ball at his feet was one of the reasons for the contrast between his performances with Manchester United and Spain.