Highly-rated Spanish goalkeeper David de Gea hopes he can play for as long as recently-retired Manchester United shot-stopper Edwin van der Sar.
The 20-year old Atletico Madrid gloveman is still being earmarked to replace the Dutch great and says it is humbling to even be spoken in the same breath as van der Sar.
"The fact they are thinking of me as a replacement for such a great goalkeeper is something I like," he told Gazzetta dello Sport.
"But it's necessary to keep fighting and working hard because we are only at the beginning and to reach that level there is a lot more to be done.
"Let's hope (I can play like Van der Sar at his age). At the moment it's difficult to look so far ahead, but I would like to (be able to).
"I need strength, luck and to take good care of my body because football consumes you. But let's hope so."
