David De Gea’s eagerly awaited return to football kicked off with an unexpected twist.

The former Manchester United goalkeeper made his debut for Serie A’s Fiorentina on Thursday after joining the club on a free transfer in August. However, his first outing was anything but smooth, as he faced a rocky start in the Europa Conference League play-offs against Puskas Academy, a relatively unknown Hungarian team.

De Gea’s reintroduction to competitive play was marked by early blunders. He conceded two goals within the first 12 minutes: the first a penalty in the ninth minute, followed by another goal just three minutes later, leaving Fiorentina trailing 2-0. This marked a rough return for the 34-year-old, who had not let in a goal since May 2023, making it a 446-day gap.

Social media quickly buzzed with reactions to De Gea’s shaky start. One fan quipped, “De Gea’s still the same—11 minutes in, and he’s already let in two goals.” Another cheekily posted a scoreline screenshot, saying, “David De Gea’s finally got a new club! Let’s see how he’s faring against Hungarian plumbers…” A third added, “Some things never change.”

Despite the ribbing, some Manchester United fans felt uneasy seeing De Gea in a new jersey. One fan commented, “It’s so strange seeing De Gea in another team’s kit.” Another defended him, stating, “Criticizing De Gea for conceding goals? He’s a club legend—let’s keep some perspective.”

Puskas Academy, founded in 2005 and coming off a third-place finish in the Hungarian top flight, proved to be a formidable opponent. Fortunately for De Gea, his Fiorentina teammates rallied. Riccardo Sottil scored before halftime, and in the second half, Lucas Martinez Quarta and Moise Kean turned the game around to put Fiorentina ahead. However, Puskas Academy managed to level the score 3-3 with a late goal from Wojciech Golla.

De Gea, who signed a one-year deal with Fiorentina that includes an option for a second year, will need time to readjust after a year-long hiatus. Fiorentina coach Raffaele Palladino acknowledged that De Gea required a period of adaptation but praised his professionalism and dedication.

After departing Manchester United at the end of the 2022/23 season, De Gea ended a 12-year tenure at Old Trafford, where he made 545 appearances following his transfer from Atletico Madrid in 2011.