'We had doubts when De Gea first came to United'
Manchester United stars were left unconvinced by David de Gea when he first arrived at Old Trafford and the Spaniard eventually gave credit to those who stuck by him, Rio Ferdinand has revealed.
Since joining the Red Devils in 2011, David De Gea has come along way from that scrawny 20-year-old that few in the United dressing room saw as having potential.
"When he first came [to United], even as players we were sitting there as players with doubts," former captain Rio 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," he added.
Manchester United had just paid £17million to sign him from Atletico Madrid, with Sir Alex Ferguson investing heavily in what he believed to be a rare talent.
"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 concluded.