David de Gea has made his intention to stay at Manchester United crystal clear.
The 31-year-old faces former club Atletico Madrid in the Champions League on Wednesday for the first time since leaving for a record-breaking fee in 2011, and he currently has no plans to return to his homeland.
Having recently entered the final 18 months of his contract, De Gea is tipped to sign a new deal and says he cannot see himself playing for anyone other than for the Red Devils, declaring his love for his adopted home city.
"I like the fact I was born in Madrid, but at the end of the day, it's just a city. Now I feel as if I'm from Manchester; I just feel like anyone else from Manchester," the Spaniard, tied down at Old Trafford until June 2023, told UEFA ahead of Wednesday's round-of-16 first leg.
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"Where you are loved and welcomed is your home. I've been here for many years and, obviously, anything can happen in life, in the world of football, but honestly I don't see myself away from Manchester United.
"Of course, I'm going back home [for this tie], I'm going back to the club that gave me the opportunity to be who I am today. But this is just another match. Everyone wants to play well, we want to win, it is a Champions League match.
"Obviously, I wish Atletico all the best, but I don't know whether the fact we're playing them is a good or bad omen. Everyone is going there to win, especially me."
Despite De Gea's only Premier League title coming in his second of 11 seasons, Sir Alex Ferguson has been proven right after he personally pushed the club to splash out £18.9 million on him after Edwin van der Sar retired - a British record fee for a goalkeeper at the time.
The stopper is on course to win his fifth Sir Matt Busby Player of the Year award in a renaissance season, with his four accolades already a club-record ahead of teammate Cristiano Ronaldo.
De Gea has also made the most saves of any Premier League goalkeeper this campaign, having reclaimed the gloves after back-up Dean Henderson usurped him towards the end of last term.
And while underlying statistics make him one of the world's best once again, United legend Gary Neville reckons the amount of work De Gea is having to do is a concern.
"Manchester United do have vulnerabilities. David De Gea has made 92 saves [before the Red Devils' 4-2 win at Leeds ], which is the most in the Premier League," the ex-United right-back said on the Gary Neville Podcast.
"It is not a good reflection on these teams. Manchester United have got to become more difficult to play against."
