David de Gea set for emotional Old Trafford return in pre-season clash

David de Gea is poised for a shock farewell at Old Trafford as Manchester United have announced an “exciting” pre-season fixture.

The match will offer fans a long-awaited opportunity to properly bid farewell to one of the club’s most loyal servants.

David de Gea is expected to feature for his current club, Fiorentina, in a high-profile friendly scheduled for Saturday, August 9.

This match could mark the homecoming for the goalkeeper, two years after his abrupt departure from Manchester United.

After leaving the Premier League, De Gea spent a season away from competitive football before signing with Fiorentina.

Since then, he has revitalised his career in Italy, impressing in Serie A and playing a crucial role in Fiorentina’s push for Champions League qualification.

Ironically, since De Gea’s departure, United have struggled to replace their former No. 1.

The club signed Cameroonian goalkeeper André Onana from Inter Milan for £43.8million, but he has yet to establish himself at Old Trafford.

Jason Wilcox, Manchester United’s technical director, 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 [Amorim] 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.”

The upcoming clash will be the first meeting between Manchester United and Fiorentina since the 1999–2000 UEFA Champions League group stage.

Back then, Fiorentina claimed a 2–0 victory in Florence, but United responded with a 3–1 win at Old Trafford, courtesy of goals from Andy Cole, Roy Keane, and Dwight Yorke.