De Gea: Tours Help New Players

David De Gea says pre-season tours can hugely help new players become accustomed to life with Manchester United.
The Spaniard's first experience of being a Red came on the 2011 trip to the US following his switch from Atletico Madrid. He has fond memories of it and feels that Tour 2014, presented by Aon, will benefit new signings Ander Herrera and Luke Shaw.

"I have a very nice memory of my first moments on tour with United. I remember vividly meeting the players and the first training sessions with them and Sir Alex. It was a truly unforgettable experience," De Gea told us.

"The tour helps you learn to live and train with great footballers such as the ones at this club. It is such a big club and you realise how big it is when you travel abroad to countries like the United States and Japan. The club has such a huge fanbase."

De Gea has been impressed with the recent growth of football in the US with a number of high-profile additions to Major League Soccer (MLS), namely fellow countryman David Villa and Brazilian legend Kaka, helping to raise interest further. The national team's progress to the last 16 of the World Cup has also boosted the sport's profile.

"More and more big players are going over there to play," says David. "They are trying to build a strong league and are getting there. People are enjoying it more and more. We are all looking forward to our trip to the US. It’s very important to have a good pre-season, to gain pace and fitness for the long campaign ahead."