The world of football has been waxing lyrical about David de Gea after his latest exceptional display for Manchester United, but few can claim to be as excited by the goalkeeper’s performance as Rio Ferdinand.
As Manchester United toiled against Sevilla in their Champions League round of 16 tie against Sevilla on Wednesday, De Gea was forced to make several good stops to make sure they came back to Old Trafford with a 0-0 draw.
But one save in particular appeared to defy belief as he reacted to Sevilla striker Luis Muriel’s point-blank header with a single hand and palmed the shot away. Watching on in the BT Sport studio, Ferdinand went nuts.
Rio Ferdinand (left and out of shot) can be seen reacting in the BT Sport studio on Wednesday
Ferdinand was reacting to a stunning save from Manchester Untied goalkeeper David De Gea
In a video posted to their Twitter channel, Ferdinand can be heard saying: ‘Oh my god, he’s the best, man. ‘What a save. This guy is a joke!’
His fellow pundits Paul Scholes and Frank Lampard also look suitably impressed with the save, but both chose to applaud in the kind of respective manner that is usually seen implemented by losing actors at the Oscars.
The former Manchester United defender also spoke of De Gea after the match had concluded and was humble enough to admit that he initially had doubts about the Spanish goalkeeper when he initially arrived at Old Trafford in 2011.
The Spanish goalkeeper was at the top of his game to help United keep a clean sheet in Seville
He said: ‘When he first came [to United], even as players we were sitting there as players with doubts,’ Ferdinand told BT Sport.
‘A young kid just come through the doors at United, we need to win every year, how are we going to do that with a young kid, inexperienced, who looks like he’s lacking confidence.
‘To be fair, Steeley [United’s ex-goalkeeper coach Eric Steele] who brought him in, believed in him and the gaffer [Sir Alex Ferguson] followed that through, and look where he is today, that’s a sign of someone who’s worked hard to get where he needs to get.’
Ferdinand also revealed that he had doubts about De Gea when he arrived at Old Trafford
