Former Manchester United goalkeeper David de Gea has continued his impressive start to life at Fiorentina with an incredible triple save in the Italian side’s victory away at Como.
The Spaniard left United after 12 seasons at the club in the summer of 2023, having been frozen out by former manager Erik ten Hag despite winning the Golden Glove in his final season.
He was replaced by Andre Onana and took a year away from football as a free agent before making the move to Fiorentina in the summer.
The 33-year-old has been having somewhat of a career renaissance in Italy, nailing down the No 1 after a string of first-class displays.
He once again inspired Fiorentina to victory on Sunday night with a trio of stunning stops, in turn keeping his sixth clean sheet of the campaign, as La Viola ran out 2-0 winners over Como.
De Gea’s heroics ensured his side stayed just one point of league leaders Napoli, and extended their winning streak to seven straight matches, as Serie A continues to be the most tightly-contested division in Europe.
David de Gea made an incredible triple save in Fiorentina’s 2-0 victory over Como on Sunday
Yacine Adli (right) and Moise Kean (left) scored the big goals for Raffaele Palladino’s team
With 61 minutes on the clock, and his side 1-0 up after a first-half strike from Yacine Adli, De Gea displayed his sensational shot stopping to keep La Viola in front.
He first got low to make a brilliant stop from Edoardo Goldaniga who latched on the end of a lovely floated cross into the box.
The ball then fell perfectly to defender Federico Barba in acres of space but the ex-United keeper displayed brilliant reactions to thwart him, before managing to hook away a third effort on the line.
Just eight minutes later, former Everton striker Moise Kean found the back of the net to send Fiorentina up to fourth in Serie A.
The Italian side’s boss Raffaele Palladino was left stunned by De Gea’s remarkable saves, suggesting he is looking like the sge age he was when he left Atletico Madrid for the Red Devils in 2011.
‘We are Beltran who chases down opponents and runs like a defender. We are Riccardo Sottil who comes on and makes the difference. We are De Gea who makes reaction saves as if he’s aged 20,’ Palladino told DAZN.
‘Having said all of that, we have achieved nothing yet. There is a sense of unity and this marvellous team spirit has been created. I dedicate the victory to the President, as it is his birthday tomorrow.’
The performance adds to the outstanding collection he has since joining La Viola on a free transfer.
The former Man United shot-stopper made two penalties saves against AC Milan last month
De Gea’s performances have been a major factor in Fiorentina’s seven match winning run
In October, De Gea made two penalty saves in one match to secure his side a crucial victory over AC Milan.
He denied both former Chelsea striker Tammy Abraham and Theo Hernandez from the spot in either half in a pulsating affair that saw three penalty saves in total and two red cards.
The pair of stops meant he became the first goalkeeper to make two penalty saves in a single Serie A match since Federico Marchetti for Lazio back in May 2016.