Where the stars from De Geas last Atletico Madrid outing are now 11 years on

02/23/2022

For the latest from the pitch sign up for our football newsletter

David de Gea will be lining up against his former side Atletico Madrid on Wednesday night as Manchester United travel to Spain for the Champions League Round of 16.

De Gea has been in flying form so far this season, though did make a few errors against Leeds last weekend, and will be hoping to build on those performances at the Estadio Wanda Metropolitano.

The goalkeeper made 84 appearances for Atletico between 2009 and 2011 before securing an £18.9million move to the Red Devils, and he has made the no.1 spot his own at the club since.

In De Gea’s final appearance for the La Liga outfit he featured in a sensational 4-3 victory over Mallorca, and there are some very familiar faces from both sides. Daily Star takes a look at those who featured in that win…

First and foremost, Atletico were managed by Quique Sanchez Flores, who has since enjoyed spells on the sidelines at Watford and Espanyol since leaving the club, as well as in China and the United Arab Emirates. He is currently the Getafe boss.

Atletico had a very sturdy defence against Mallorca, though none have remained at the club.

Right-back Juanfran, now retired, spent the vast majority of his career at Atletico but opted to retire at Sao Paulo in 2020 after two seasons at the club. He was also on the scoresheet against Mallorca.

Central defender Tomas Ujfalusi left the club in 2014 for Galatasaray before retiring at Sparta Prague at 2014.

Fellow centre backs Mario Suarez and Jorge Pulido both left for clubs in Europe but are now back in their homeland of Spain, with Suarez at Ray Vallecano and Pulido at Huesca.

The most familiar face in the backline that day is Filipe Luis, who joined Chelsea in 2014 and won the Premier League and League Cup in his only season at the club. The left-back then returned to Atletico before joining Brazilian side Flamengo in 2019.

He also won the Copa America in 2019 and the Confederations Cup in 2013 with Brazil.

Perhaps the most forgettable player in the Atletico side was Juan Valera, who left the club in 2011 for Getafe and concluded his career there, making 94 appearances.

Koke also starred in midfield that day, aged 19, and is now one of the club’s most important players. The 30-year-old playmaker has now made 375 appearances for Atletico and became their captain in 2019.

The midfielder has won two La Liga titles, the Europa League twice and also the Copa del Rey.

Like Koke, Tiago Mendes was also a loyal servant of Atletico who started that day. The Portugal international retired in 2017 after spending seven seasons at the club.

Former Real Madrid and Arsenal star Jose Antonio Reyes started up top for Flores’ side against. The Spain international tragically passed away in a car crash in 2019. Prior to his passing, he enjoyed spells at Sevilla, Espanyol, Cordoba, Chinese side Xinjiang Tianshan Leopard and Extremadura after leaving Atletico in 2012.

Thierry Henry's net worth and jaw-dropping £8million divorce settlement with ex wife

Sergio Aguero scored a hat-trick for Atletico in De Gea’s final game for the club, and it was a sign of what was to come for the Argentina international.

The striker joined Manchester City in 2011 and went on to establish himself as one of the best strikers to ever grace the Premier League, scoring 184 goals in 275 appearances for the club.

Aguero won five league titles at the Etihad Stadium outfit, as well as the FA Cup and the EFL Cup six times. He then left the club as a legend and joined Barcelona, where he was forced to retire earlier this season due to heart issues.

There was a few familiar faces on the bench for Atletico against Mallorca as well.

Joel Robles was on the bench for that match, who is now at Real Betis but most known for his time at Everton, where he spent five years.

Diego Costa, 22 years old at the time, was also an unused substitute that day. The striker went out on loan to Rayo Vallecano in 2012 before joining Chelsea in 2014.

The Spain international made 89 appearances for the Stamford Bridge outfit, winning the Premier League twice and the Football League Cup. Costa then returned to Atletico in 2018 before joining Brazilian outfit Atletico Mineiro last year.

He is currently a free agent and was linked with a move to Arsenal in January but a deal never materialised.