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Article continues belowArticle continues belowArticle continues below<ul><li>De Gea wished Mata on his 35th birthday</li><li>Compared him to Malcolm in the Middle star </li><li>Goalkeeper remains free agent since leaving Man Utd </li></ul><script type="application/json" data-placement="fcplayer-semantic">{"type":"fcplayer-semantic","data":{"embedCode":"//cdn.fcp.codes/embed-code-template/embed-code-template.js#SEMANTIC_5704afb8-c10b-4ba5-9cb4-d7fb6098ef90"}}</script>

David de Gea sends hilarious birthday message to Juan Mata as ex-Man Utd goalkeeper compares former team-mate to Malcolm in the Middle protagonist

Premier League

Manchester United

Newcastle

De Gea, who spent eight years at United and six years in the Spain national team with Juan Mata, wished the midfielder a happy birthday on social media as the ex-Red Devils and Chelsea player turned 35 on April 28.

WHAT HAPPENED?

The goalkeeper uploaded three different Instagram stories tagging his close friend. The first story comprised a photograph of the duo from a Spain national team training, where he wrote, "Happy birthday Amigo. Best of the best."<picture><source srcset="https://assets.goal.com/images/v3/bltacc12744a429e8e2/IMG_20240428_202537.jpg?format=webp" type="image/webp"><source srcset="https://assets.goal.com/images/v3/bltacc12744a429e8e2/IMG_20240428_202537.jpg?format=jpg" type="image/jpeg"><img src="https://assets.goal.com/images/v3/bltacc12744a429e8e2/IMG_20240428_202537.jpg?format=jpg" alt="David De Gea Juan Mata" data-source="David De Gea Instagram" data-copyright="David De Gea Instagram" perform:prop="uuid:bltacc12744a429e8e2;width:1080;height:1842"></picture>In the second story, he uploaded a major throwback photograph of Mata from his Real Oviedo days. The third photograph was an image of Malcolm in the Middle protagonist Malcolm, portrayed by actor Frankie Muniz.<picture><source srcset="https://assets.goal.com/images/v3/blt2fe4a49eabcab830/IMG_20240428_202520.jpg?format=webp" type="image/webp"><source srcset="https://assets.goal.com/images/v3/blt2fe4a49eabcab830/IMG_20240428_202520.jpg?format=jpg" type="image/jpeg"><img src="https://assets.goal.com/images/v3/blt2fe4a49eabcab830/IMG_20240428_202520.jpg?format=jpg" alt="Juan Mata David De Gea" data-source="David De Gea Instagram" data-copyright="David De Gea Instagram" perform:prop="uuid:blt2fe4a49eabcab830;width:1080;height:1872"></picture><picture><source srcset="https://assets.goal.com/images/v3/bltd85bc5defc1e4bc9/Screenshot_2024-04-28-20-24-45-43_1c337646f29875672b5a61192b9010f9.jpg?format=webp" type="image/webp"><source srcset="https://assets.goal.com/images/v3/bltd85bc5defc1e4bc9/Screenshot_2024-04-28-20-24-45-43_1c337646f29875672b5a61192b9010f9.jpg?format=jpg" type="image/jpeg"><img src="https://assets.goal.com/images/v3/bltd85bc5defc1e4bc9/Screenshot_2024-04-28-20-24-45-43_1c337646f29875672b5a61192b9010f9.jpg?format=jpg" alt="Malcolm in the Middle David De Gea" data-source="David De Gea Instagram" data-copyright="David De Gea Instagram" perform:prop="uuid:bltd85bc5defc1e4bc9;width:1080;height:1812"></picture>

WHAT DAVID DE GEA SAID

De Gea remains a free agent following his departure from Old Trafford at the end of the 2022-23 season. Several clubs approached him in the last two transfer windows including Saudi Pro League teams but he refused to accept those proposals. However, as per the latest rumours, <a href="https://www.goal.com/en/lists/new-suitor-emerges-for-david-de-gea-despite-ex-man-utd-goalkeeper-spending-whole-season-without-club/blt5845135d9ee3fb95#cs85c19419ea32702b" target="_blank">Real Betis are reportedly keen on signing the ace custodian</a> as a free agent ahead of the 2024-25 campaign.

THE GOSSIP

The 33-year-old recently fuelled speculation that he could be nearing a return to professional football after <a href="https://www.goal.com/en/lists/David-de-gea-training-video-man-united/blt8aac1a93dce9de9c#csdb48f6fc28309c7f" target="_blank">posting a video of himself training</a> on social media.

WHAT NEXT FOR DAVID DE GEA?

David de Gea sends hilarious birthday message to Juan Mata as ex-Man Utd goalkeeper compares former team-mate to Malcolm in the Middle protagonist | Goal.com US

David De Gea sent a hilarious birthday message to ex-Manchester United colleague Juan Mata as he compared him to Malcolm in the Middle&apos;s protagonist.

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