David de Gea 'suffering' at new club after Manchester United exit

After leaving Manchester United and enduring a 14-month hiatus from the game, David de Gea has embarked on a new chapter with Fiorentina, where he's expected to readjust to regular football. De Gea, who signed a one-year deal with the Italian club in August, has already made five appearances in the past six weeks, including one clean sheet, as he settles into the Serie A.

His return to action after 446 days was less than ideal, with Fiorentina managing only a 3-3 draw against Puskas Akademia in the Europa Conference League play-offs. However, the 33-year-old redeemed himself by pulling off crucial saves in a penalty shootout during his second outing.

Despite some initial hesitation from Fiorentina coach Raffaele Palladino to start him over Pietro Terracciano, De Gea has since secured the goalkeeping spot for the team's recent league games.

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Former Fiorentina keeper Rubinho has called for patience from the fans, noting De Gea's lengthy absence from competitive play. Speaking to Radio Firenze Viola following a goalless match against Empoli, Rubinho said: "De Gea is still suffering from having been out for more than a year. But he has already helped Fiorentina a lot in these first games," and added, "I think he can only grow further and show everyone the qualities he has."

He also praised De Gea's abilities, comparing his presence in goal to Fiorentina legends Francesco Toldo and Sebastien Frey, reports the Mirror.

Following his exclusion from a 2-2 draw against Monza, Fiorentina manager Palladino publicly called on De Gea to step up his game. "There isn't a hierarchy right now. I wanted to