I want to be Man Utd legend – De Gea

Manchester United goalkeeper David De Gea has revealed in an interview with Sky Sports that he wants to stay with the club to become a legend at Old Trafford.

De Gea, 25, had been close to completing a move to Real Madrid on deadline day in the summer transfer window but administrative errors meant he stayed in the Premier League.

The Spain international signed a new four-year contract in September, but sources have told ESPN that Madrid are keen to revisit a move for the goalkeeper despite being handed a recent transfer ban from FIFA.

However, when asked how he was feeling about his future at Manchester United, De Gea replied that he wanted to follow in the footsteps of club greats Peter Schmeichel and Edwin van der Sar.

“I’m happy, I’m enjoying it and I believe in the team,” said De Gea. “They were the greatest goalkeepers in the Premier League, they are legends for this club and that is what I want.

“I train every day to be the best goalkeeper in the world, that is my aim. I’m not sure who the best is now, but it’s what I want. Also, to win trophies for Manchester United.”

De Gea has been United’s Player of the Year for the last two seasons, but he has not always enjoyed his time in England. Early in his career, having joined from Atletico Madrid for around €25 million in 2011, De Gea struggled and revealed that he had to work hard to become the player he is today.

“The early days were difficult, there were some moments when I thought, ‘This is not the place for me, I need to go back to Spain’,” he said. “But I worked hard, in the gym and on the pitch. And I fight, I fight a lot.”

And, having repaid the fans for their faith, De Gea paid tribute to them for how they treated him in the aftermath of his failed transfer — in the 3-1 win over Liverpool in September.

“I cannot describe how I felt in that moment,” he added of the prematch reception he received when the fans cheered his name. “In another country, at another club, the fans would not be the same as at Manchester United. They are some of the best in the world, it was unbelievable.”