David De Gea has made a return and is on his way to Italy, reportedly taking a significant pay cut to ensure his return to playing. After spending over a decade at Old Trafford, he was expected to quickly return to football once he left Manchester, but did not receive an enticing offer to lure him back.

The Spaniard is expected to be introduced to the Italian media on Monday and could make his debut for Fiorentina against Parma on August 17. His move to Florence was hinted at when he tweeted a picture of a purple heart.

Fiorentina finished eighth last season and will need to qualify for the Europa Conference League. Although they have finished as runners-up in the European tournament for the past two seasons, they have not won a major trophy since 2001, when they lifted the Coppa Italia.

Last season, Pietro Terracciano was Fiorentina’s first-choice goalkeeper, with 53 appearances in all competitions and 13 clean sheets. However, he is now expected to face serious competition from the former Manchester United player.

De Gea received criticism in his final years in the north-west as his performances became increasingly error-strewn. Despite this, during his peak, he was known as one of the best shot-stoppers in the world.

He won United’s Player of the Year award four times in the space of five years, a feat unmatched in the club’s history. Note: I removed irrelevant information about special offers and promotions from the text.