Goalkeeper David De Gea has been on the bench for all three Serie A matches of Fiorentina for the 2024/25 season, only featuring in cup competitions.
De Gea joined Fiorentina on a free transfer in the summer of 2024 after a year out of football. He made his debut in the match against Puskas AFC in the first leg of the Conference League play-off. In that game, De Gea conceded three goals, but he shone in the second leg by saving a penalty, helping Fiorentina secure a spot in the Conference League 2024/25 group stage.
Despite this improved performance, De Gea has not been chosen by head coach Raffaele Palladino for Serie A matches. Palladino has relied on Pietro Terracciano for all three Serie A games so far instead of De Gea.
This raises concerns that De Gea might only be used as a goalkeeper for cup competitions at Fiorentina, rather than being the first-choice keeper in Serie A, the most important competition for the club.
However, after a 2-2 draw with Monza, Coach Palladino emphasized that there is currently no fixed order between De Gea and Terracciano. Palladino stated: “There is no fixed division at the moment. I want to see both De Gea and Terracciano to understand better. I’m satisfied with both. David hasn’t played for a year, so I prioritize Terracciano. We’ll evaluate further in the coming days.”
Palladino’s decision to bench De Gea and choose Terracciano reflects a cautious approach from Fiorentina. On the positive side, it gives De Gea more time to regain his form after a long period away from the pitch.
The upcoming international break comes at a good time, as De Gea will have two weeks to prove himself in training before Fiorentina faces Atalanta in Serie A on September 15. Overall, things are not too bad for the 33-year-old goalkeeper.