Manchester United goalkeeper David de Gea says he has matured as a footballer and person in his two years at the club.
The 22-year-old moved to Old Trafford from Atletico Madrid for a fee in the region of 17 million pounds in June 2011, signing as the primary replacement for Edwin van der Sar, who retired that off-season.
De Gea initially drew criticism for several costly mistakes and doubts were cast over his suitability for the physicality of the English Premier League but he has since ousted team-mate Anders Lindegaard as United s number one.
I ve changed a lot in Manchester, he told reporters.
I ve spent two years in their football culture and it makes you change.
I m more mature as a person and a player. I m a very different person from when I arrived in England.
De Gea has started United s past 14 Premier League games, keeping seven clean sheets in the process, and has not conceded a league goal for 537 minutes.
He will face one member of United s defence in Patrice Evra on Tuesday as France host Spain in a World Cup 2014 qualifier and De Gea said they have shared their opinions ahead of the fixture.
I have spoken to Evra. There s always some winding up he says they will beat us, he said.
We will try and do as well as possible, so we can beat them.
