SHIFT GEARS
David De Gea, the Man Utd hero who drives a van, endured a horror World Cup and has a pop star WAG… who wouldn’t live in Manchester
DAVID DE GEA has backed himself to help restore Manchester United to its former glory.
The Spanish keeper, who has been linked with a return to his homeland ever since his 2011 switch to Old Trafford, finally ended the long-standing uncertainty over his future by signing a new four-year deal.
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It's been a rapid rise to the top from the £350,000 a week star who was first tipped for success in England by Roberto Martinez, who tried to sign him for Wigan.
After holding out for Sir Alex Ferguson to pay a then British record fee to bring him from Atletico Madrid to United, he hit the big time.
The 28-year-old is now tasked with guiding the club to the summit of English football once again as the world's best-paid goalkeeper.
POPSTAR WAG
De Gea's future in Manchester was aided by his long-term pop star girlfriend Edurne Gracia's decision to relocate to Manchester late last year.
And at one time it looked to be that the Spain's Got Talent judge was the one fuelling a move to Real Madrid after she made some disparaging comments about the city.
While working on television in 2015, Edurne is said to have agreed with a presenter who described Manchester as "uglier than the back of a fridge".
Edurne and De Gea have been dating since 2010, but she made her name herself five years prior when she appeared on a Spanish reality show.
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EARLY BEGINNINGS
De Gea made his name at Atletico Madrid after signing for the club when he was just 13 when his then-coach lied about a potential deal with Rayo Vallecano.
The young keeper, who confessed to being a striker in his early days, endured a tough time breaking in the Los Rojiblancos first-team.
De Gea was once punished and forced to train alone after rejecting loan moves to QPR and Spanish side Numancia.
However the arrival of Quique Sanchez Flores at Atletico was the break he needed to become the club's number one, with the Watford manager revealing that the two enjoy a "special relationship" together.
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STUNNING HOME
De Gea had fans worried that he was set to quit Manchester after selling his luxury £3.85million Cheshire mansion.
But SunSport revealed that he had only moved 500-yards around the corner, with stunning partner Edurne moving in with him last year.
De Gea's house boasted a luxurious swimming pool, 6 bedrooms, a gym, and a huge TV room.
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VAN DRIVER
A positive for De Gea staying at United is not having to find a big enough garage elsewhere to house his stellar car collection.
The shot-stopper has amassed a fleet of fine motors since arriving on our shores in 2011, including an Aston Martin Vantage and a Mercedes-Benz GLE.
And at 6ft4, De Gea is a man that needs a car with a lot of legroom and has been pictured cruising around in his Mercedes-Benz Vito does.
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MAN OF THE PEOPLE
United fans are naturally over the moon with their number one staying at the club, with De Gea earning the right to wear the captain's armband.
SunSport revealed earlier this year that the Spanish International stunned one young supporter by sending his own BOOTS as a present.
And the charitable star that he was forced to miss a surprise Christmas trip to surprise fans at a local hospital because of a random drugs test.
WORLD CUP HORROR
De Gea revealed that he is "committed to repaying the fans for all of the care that they’ve shown me during the good times and the bad."
Part of those bad times came during Spain's miserable World Cup in Russia where he failed to make a single save in their last-16 defeat to the hosts.
Some of that form resurfaced at the tail end of last season, but De Gea looks to be back getting back to his best with a promising start to the new campaign.
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SERIAL AWARD WINNER
De Gea, who joined United from Atletico Madrid for £18.3 million in 2011, after winning both the Europa League and UEFA Super Cup.
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He went on to lift the Premier League title in his second term under Sir Alex Ferguson, adding an FA and League Cup despite the club's falling fortunes since his move.
And it is individual awards where De Gea really proves his weight in gold, as United's three-time Players' Player of the Year.
He has also made the PFA Team of the Year five times and secured the Premier League Golden Glove award two years ago.
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David De Gea signs new Man Utd contract keeping him at Old Trafford until 2023
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