David de Gea set for Old Trafford return as Manchester United confirm pre-season friendly vs Fiorentina

The Spanish goalie spent 12 years at the club.

Manchester United have confirmed they will play their final summer friendly against Fiorentina before the 2025–2026 season begins.

On Saturday, August 9, the teams will play a midday match at Old Trafford before United takes part in the 2025-26 season’s Premier League action the following weekend.

The game will see the return of former goalkeeper David de Gea, the current number one goalkeeper for Fiorentina. He was a member for 12 years before leaving the Red Devils in the summer of 2023.

At the conclusion of the 2022-2023 season, David de Gea’s deal was not renewed, therefore, he left as a free agent. That summer, United paid £43 million to Inter Milan to recruit Andre Onana, while De Gea was left without a team for over a year before reaching an agreement in Florence.

After the current campaign ends in May, United are already planning six summer friendlies in Asia, Sweden, and the United States of America.

Since joining the team in September, 2024, the 34-year-old David de Gea has appeared in every league game for Raffaele Palladino’s team. It appears that he will be offered an additional season to stay in Serie A.

Prior to playing West Ham, Bournemouth, and Everton in the US Premier League Summer Series, United had previously stated that they would play Leeds United in Stockholm.

United’s technical director Jason Wilcox said: ‘‘This final pre-season fixture is key to our preparations for the 2025-26 campaign – it will ensure the players have all had competitive game time, against top opposition, in different environments, including Old Trafford, before the Premier League resumes.”

‘’We have worked closely with Ruben and his coaching staff to put together a schedule of exciting and competitive fixtures that create the best conditions for the team to prepare.” 

‘This includes utilising some of the leading sporting facilities in the US, playing against strong opponents, and creating opportunities for as many fans as possible to see the team live in Sweden, the US, and, with this final fixture, back home at the Theatre of Dreams.’’

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