David De Gea has sent an emotional message to Jordi Alba after the ex-Manchester United’s Spanish international team-mate announced his retirement from football
Former Manchester United goalkeeper David De Gea has responded to fellow Spaniard Jordi Alba announcing his retirement. Earlier this week, the ex-Barcelona left-back confirmed his decision to stop playing professional football at the end of the current MLS season.
Alba was part of an excellent Barcelona team that included Neymar, Luis Suarez and Lionel Messi with the 36-year-old still playing alongside the latter duo at Inter Miami. In his last outing before confirming such a big career decision, Alba scored twice in a 4-1 win over New England with Messi assisting one of those strikes.
Despite still quite clearly being able to compete at a high level, Alba has taken the decision to retire later this month, as confirmed in a social media post.
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“The time has come to close a truly meaningful chapter in my life,” he said in a video posted on Instagram.
“I’ve decided to bring my professional football career to an end at the conclusion to this season. I do so with complete conviction, with peace, and with happiness.”
The comments on the post are filled with numerous big names sending well-wishes, though De Gea opted for a dedicated Instagram post to his former international team-mate.
Alongside images of the two while representing Spain, he showed his true character with a classy message, writing: “Jordi, Thanks for everything. You always gave 100% on and off the field, with that joy and good humor that characterizes you…“Thank you for being so real, for your dedication and for your friendship. You are great on and off the field. I love you my friend [red heart emoji].”
De Gea has spent the last 14 months at Italian side Fiorentina and he has more than impressed, but it has been a very difficult start to the 2025/26 season. Fiorentina are yet to win in Serie A with their only victories coming in Conference League action.
This past weekend’s defeat to Roma prompted De Gea to send a message to supporters with Fiorentina only sat outside of the relegation zone on goal difference. Since his Old Trafford departure, the goalkeeper situation has been a very uncertain one at United.
Andre Onana was brought in as his replacement from Inter, but he has struggled significantly with the decision made over the summer to ship him out on loan to Trabzonspor after Senne Lammens was signed from Royal Antwerp on deadline day.
Altay Bayindir remained Ruben Amorim’s No.1 for a few weeks but Lammens was brought in for his debut against Sunderland this past Saturday. The 23-year-old looked assured in between the sticks and he was able to help United keep their first clean sheet of the season.
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2025-10-08 15:00:38
