David De Gea gave Fiorentina a needed point against Napoli, producing the kind of intervention that can alter not only a match but the mood around a club before a difficult break in the calendar. The Spanish goalkeeper made at least three decisive saves and prevented an estimated 1.47 expected goals in a match where the Viola could easily have been punished despite offering enough to feel a defeat would have been harsh.
De Gea holds Fiorentina together against Napoli
The most important moment came before Fiorentina scored, when De Gea denied Olivera in a one-on-one situation. He was then called upon again during a frantic spell after the interval, stopping Neres and Favasuli within three minutes.
Those stops protected a draw that carries weight in both the table and the dressing room. Defeat would have sent Fiorentina into the unusual double weekend break amid sharper arguments and growing dissatisfaction. Instead, the side have been given a measure of relief and a reminder of the authority their captain can still provide.
- De Gea made at least three major saves against Napoli.
- His performance was valued at 1.47 expected goals prevented.
- He stopped Olivera before Fiorentina’s goal.
- Further saves from Neres and Favasuli arrived during a tense second-half passage.
- The result spared Fiorentina a potentially damaging loss before the pause.
A recovery after Fiorentina’s difficult start
The Napoli display suggested that De Gea is rediscovering the level that made his first season in Florence so convincing. His second campaign had unfolded amid a broader collective decline, rather than an individual collapse, but the goalkeeper’s form inevitably came under scrutiny as the club’s confidence drained away.
Under Fabio Grosso, the opening seven competitive fixtures brought a save percentage just below 54 per cent for the former Manchester United goalkeeper. The picture has improved since Paolo Vanoli took charge, with De Gea again looking assured and proactive in his work.
For Fiorentina supporters, the hope is that the difficult period is now behind them. The early weeks under Grosso unsettled the club, and the point against Napoli offered evidence that the team have a senior figure capable of steadying the afternoon when the match begins to turn against them.
Captaincy, contract and a younger squad
Fiorentina’s faith in De Gea was already clear in May 2025. The club could have activated an existing option that would have extended his deal until 2026, while raising his salary from €1.2 million to €2.4 million. Instead, following his strong performances, they offered a three-year renewal worth €3 million net per season.
There may be discussions in the coming months over an even longer commitment, although that is not considered an immediate priority. Fiorentina see De Gea as a central leader for a reshaped, younger group that requires guidance as well as talent.
The goalkeeper has accepted that responsibility himself. After the home defeat to Frosinone, he stressed that the squad needed to show greater resolve, beginning with its captain.
- De Gea said the players must take responsibility, with him first in line as captain.
- He called for more determination and an insistence on taking three points whenever possible.
- He highlighted the number of new, high-quality arrivals in the squad.
- He said the group must understand the significance of representing Fiorentina, work properly and retain a positive outlook.
Fiorentina’s ambitious and expensive recruitment has raised expectations around the club. De Gea believes there is considerable ability in the group, but his role extends beyond saves: he must help preserve calm, set standards and give a new squad the confidence to turn potential into results.
