Fergie signs a real stunner - 7M sport

Fergie signs a real stunner



I have a say

Posted Wednesday, June 29, 2011 by The Sun

Fergie signs a real stunner

DAVID DE GEA arrived at Manchester United with a trophy on his arm — and we don't mean the European Under-21 Championship.

Get a load of his girlfriend Edurne, who will leave every WAG at Old Trafford desperate to raise their game next season.
At 25, the stunning Spanish pop star is five years older than Alex Ferguson's new £18.3million goalkeeper.

And while her music is far from critically acclaimed back home, her looks are enough to make her as big a star as the man who has to fill the void left by Edwin van der Sar's retirement.

As for the new-found fame the pair will attract, De Gea is trying to keep his feet on the ground. He said: "I don't think it will be a problem - Edurne will keep singing ballads and I will keep stopping balls.

"Everyone else can say or do what they like."

Those words show the deep and serious character of the young Spaniard, who had a medical in Manchester on Monday as part of his switch from Atletico Madrid. Indeed United's new golden couple are like chalk and cheese.

De Gea is not even a fan of pop music like his missus sings. Heavy metal is his thing... although he does have a touch of the old romantic in him as he lists Titanic as his favourite film.

While Edurne is outgoing and showy — as our picture suggests — De Gea is very grounded.

He said: "From the first moment people started to recognise me and fame has arrived, I've tried really hard to keep the same people around me, do precisely the same things as before and to stay grounded thanks to my family.

"Being praised, no it doesn't worry me. One day you are being praised and the next people are on top of you.

"If you keep your feet on the ground you'll never get above your station."

He is a young man who has not forgotten his roots in Illescas — a municipality 25 miles outside Madrid the population of which would fill the Stretford End at Old Trafford.

He goes back there to visit his old school and is a hero to the kids there. His old school master at the Castilla School is Jose Luis Garcia who describes De Gea as an inspiration.

Garcia said: "David was a very, very good student.

"He came from a very good family background and always had a very positive attitude. He was with us from the age of four to 17.

"Academically he was very good, although not so much in English — he wasn't very good at that!

"But, of course, he was brilliant at all sports. He excelled at basketball and football. He had very big hands so it is no surprise to us he's a goalkeeper.

"But, for all his success with Atletico Madrid, David hasn't changed a bit. He has always been a modest lad and very down to earth. He is not big headed at all and I don't think anything will change that either. He's just very normal.

"He is often back in school and always wants to see his old teachers. He brings in autographs and pictures and will always spend time talking to the children about doing well in school."

De Gea's rise has been dramatic after only 18 months in Atletico's first team.

He played in all 38 La Liga games for Atletico last season, conceding 53 goals behind a defence which made West Ham's look like a fortress.

But boss Ferguson saw something he liked way back in September. Which is why he kept track of De Gea all season and finally agreed to pay £18.3m for him last month.

His judgment is backed by some of the biggest goalkeeping names in the game, including Spain's current No 1 World Cup-winner Iker Casillas.

De Gea helped Spain win the Euro Under-21 title by beating Switzerland 2-0 in Saturday's final.

And Real Madrid star Casillas reckons the youngster will soon be battling to take his place in the full international side despite more competition from Liverpool's Pepe Reina and Barcelona's Victor Valdes.

Casillas said: "He could pension us all off. He will soon be fighting for my place.

"We have to take care of him because he is the future. Watching him reminds me a lot of when I started 12 years ago."

De Gea faces a tough introduction to English football against neighbours Manchester City in the Community Shield at Wembley on August 7.

United goalkeeping legend Alex Stepney, 68, said: "Making your debut in a Manchester derby is as big a test as they come.

"Mine was at Old Trafford against City. We won 1-0 and it really settled me down.

"If you've got that experience under your belt straight away then it is priceless."



Attention: Third parties may advertise their products and/or services on our website.7M does not warrant the accuracy, adequacy or completeness of their contents.
Your dealings with such third parties are solely between you and such third parties and we shall not be liable in any way for any loss or damage of any sort incurred by you.