In an interview with Spanish outlet El País, Manchester United goalkeeper David De Gea discussed the upcoming Champions League fixture against his former club Atlético Madrid.
On returning to play against Atlético
It’s a difficult feeling to explain, after so many years, to go back, in this case to the Wanda [Metropolitano], and play against Atlético. It’s a very strange feeling.
On his Atlético debut
It was the first game I played as a starter for Atlético. I saved a penalty and the crowd went wild… it was incredible. That stadium was very special. For anyone who is an Atlético Madrid fan, that stadium [Vicente Calderón] was incredible.
First time at the Vicente Calderón
I went with my father. I was 10 or 11 years old, and the atmosphere really caught your attention. The Calderón was very special. It was a pressure cooker. When fans started screaming, the ground vibrated, it was amazing. It was shaking, the stadium was shaking!
Leaving Atlético to join Manchester United
It was hard for me. There were people close to me who told me: ‘You have Manchester United, think about it, it’s a unique opportunity’. But at that time I only knew Atlético Madrid. I had been there for many years since I was a kid. I had my family there, my friends, everything. It was hard for me to take the step. People loved me and it was hard for me to take that step.
