Manchester United goalkeeper David De Gea has opened up on his early struggles after his move from Atletico Madrid in 2011.

Then at 20 years of age, Sir Alex Ferguson threw De Gea in the deep end as a first-team starter. And despite early struggles, Ferguson persisted with the lanky Spaniard.

Now 27, De Gea has developed into one of the world's best goalkeepers, and he wouldn't have developed his skills had it not been for those difficult times.

He told Sky Sports: "I was a young lad, new on the block coming from a different country to a different culture. I didn't speak the language and everything was different; the food and the culture.

"It was tough and there were some difficult moments, but what I never did was give up the faith I had in myself. You've got to trust in your own ability, back yourself and the main thing is work really, really hard and fight to improve.

"I think looking back and at the person I am today, I'm a better goalkeeper for it and more mature as a person. In terms of a player and person, I'm a much different David de Gea."