MY ACCOUNT
“Super proud” David de Gea says it is “crazy” to be preparing to make his 500th Manchester United appearance.
The goalkeeper will reach the milestone should he be named in the starting line-up when Erik ten Hag’s side welcome Newcastle United to Old Trafford on Sunday.
De Gea will be presented with an engraved plate this weekend to commemorate the landmark, while he will also wear a pair of specially designed gloves for the Magpies showdown.
The Spain international, who joined United from Atletico Madrid in June 2011, will become the 11th player to appear 500 or more times for the Red Devils after Ryan Giggs, Sir Bobby Charlton, Paul Scholes, Bill Foulkes, Gary Neville, Wayne Rooney, Alex Stepney, Tony Dunne, Denis Irwin and Joe Spence – and only the second goalkeeper after Stepney.
De Gea expressed his great pride at hitting the 500 mark for the Red Devils, but the 31-year-old believes the achievement will only properly sink in after he hangs up his boots.
“I think it’s something crazy. To play 500 games for this club is very special for me, of course,” he told the official club website.
“But probably, I will realise more when I stop playing football, when I retire and then look back and say ‘okay, I played more than 500 games for a massive club like United.’ I’m super proud, and it’s amazing, to be honest.
“Just to be part of this club is massive and it’s so difficult to get here, so it’s a dream to be here and already play as much as I’ve played. It’s unbelievable.”
