Some things are worth waiting for. The love of your life, a holiday you have always dreamed of and a properly prepared risotto all spring to mind. We can now add to that list the return of David de Gea.

There was a lot of scepticism surrounding the wisdom of his acquisition when Fiorentina trumpeted the arrival of the former Manchester United goalkeeper in the summer. In a world where memories are shorter than the time it takes to type 140 characters or less, he was yesterday’s man – perhaps not even that. Having last seen competitive action in June 2023, there were plenty who questioned what he had to offer after more than a year’s sabbatical.

Nobody doubted what a good player he had been – although he did have to win people over initially in England – but they wondered about his appetite to compete. If you turned your back on the game, after all, how hungry could you possibly be to come back? What was the possible attraction of a gruelling training regime when you could be relaxing on the beach?

The player, of course, was adamant that he was ready to return. He was keen on a move to Italy and a Viola side undergoing a reconstruction – both of its stadium and its squad – was keen to roll the dice. With all respect to Pietro Terracciano, it has been a while since they had a keeper of de Gea’s reputation.

A gamble, for sure, but just for a year with an option of another one if things worked out. The early signs were already decent with some quality saves but he outdid himself on Sunday night against Milan. For a man not renowned as a penalty stopper, he denied the Rossoneri twice from the spot in a performance that gave his new employers and coach Raffaele Palladino a vital victory. This wasn’t just rolling back the years, it was almost better than his previous incarnation.

The temptation might be to get carried away on the back of one performance but a more measured view will be needed over a larger sample of games. Still, the feeling is that the Tuscan side might have pulled a fast one on their rivals in securing his services. Still only 33, after all, he could potentially have half a dozen seasons or more in his locker – if he wants them.

They are certainly loving him right now in Florence as they put together a completely new side from the Vincenzo Italiano age. The team that put Paulo Fonseca’s side to the sword was almost entirely composed of recently signed players apart from Dodo, Luca Ranieri and the hardly ever used before Pietro Commuzzo. It hasn’t been plain sailing for their coach this far but their last display before the international break gave grounds for hope.

And at the centre of those dreams and aspirations is the Spanish goalkeeper. He is, for the time being anyway, the unquestioned number one at the Stadio Artemio Franchi and will hope to retain that role. The fans, too, will pray that his glorious form is not just a flash in the pan  but rather the start of a brilliant Indian summer to his career. If that proves to be the case, who could blame Fiorentina for scouring the world’s holiday resorts for other star players who have left the game too soon?