A product of Atlético de Madrid's youth system, De Gea spent his first professional seasons with the reserves, in Segunda División B. As first-choice Sergio Asenjo was away on international duty, he received his first main side call-ups. On September 30, 2009, he replaced injured Roberto during the UEFA Champions League contest at F.C. Porto, in an eventual 0–2 loss, not yet aged 19.
Three days later, De Gea made his first division debuts, at home against Real Zaragoza; he gave away a penalty kick in the 19th minute, but saved the ensuing Marko Babić attempt, in an eventual 2–1 triumph. After some costly mistakes by Asenjo, and the arrival of Quique Sánchez Flores as manager, he finished the season as the starter – twice earning Man of the match awards along the way, against Athletic Bilbao and Valencia CF. Additionally, he appeared in eight games in the club's victorious UEFA Europa League campaign, including the 2–1 final win against Fulham.
De Gea started 2010–11 in impressive fashion, helping Atlético win the season's UEFA Super Cup: in the 90th minute of the 2–0 win against F.C. Internazionale Milano, he saved a Diego Milito penalty kick.
De Gea helped Spain's U17 win the 2007 European Championship and finish second at the 2007 World Cup. In early May 2010, courtesy of solid Atlético performances, he was named by senior squad manager Vicente del Bosque in a provisional 30-man squad, in view of the forthcoming FIFA World Cup; eventually, he did not make the final cut.
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