After a short "retirement" for a year, former Manchester United goalkeeper David De Gea returned to the green field and quickly regained his form in Serie A. Now, he has become an indispensable member of Fiorentina and has publicly expressed his desire to stay with the team.

On Thursday, De Gea started in the first leg of the UEFA League semi-final against Real Betis. Although Fiorentina eventually lost 1-2, the Spanish veteran still showed a stable performance. In an interview with FirenzeViola after the game, De Gea was asked if he was willing to continue his career in Italy, and he did not hesitate to express his positive attitude.

De Gea said: "I am taking it one step at a time now. I am very happy in Florence and I really enjoy the atmosphere of Italian football. I hope to achieve the best results with this team."

In the summer of 2023, De Gea chose to temporarily leave the field after his contract with Manchester United expired. After a year of silence, he signed a one-year short-term contract with Fiorentina in the summer of 2024. Today, the 34-year-old veteran has not only established a foothold in Serie A, but also won the recognition of fans and senior management with his actual performance. According to multiple Italian media reports, the club is ready to offer him a salary increase and a contract extension for one year, but the two sides have not yet formally reached an agreement.

De Gea's outstanding performance in Fiorentina this season has also made him an important guarantee for the team's qualification for the European war. Fiorentina is currently ranked eighth in the Serie A standings, only 3 points behind the top four, and is still expected to impact the Champions League qualification next season.