David De Gea put up a world-class display to help Manchester United beyond Everton on Sunday, but the Spanish goalkeeper has admitted he considered leaving Old Trafford during his difficult first season at the club.

De Gea made a string of high-profile errors upon his arrival in 2011 and was targeted by the opposition due to his lack of physicality. He was often pressured from crosses and set-pieces in which he didn't appear entirely comfortable. Three seasons on, he has an in-club Player of the Year award to his name and is making stunning saves to gain his club three points.

David McDonnell of the Mirror posted De Gea's quotes about potentially leaving when times got tough:

It was difficult when you get a lot of criticism like I did. But I kept strong and I always tried to remain positive. I loved training. It was a great pleasure so I just did my work and worked through it. Those early days were difficult for me and my family. But when you play for a big club like Manchester United it is normal when you don't play well.

De Gea believes criticism has made him "stronger" and that it's "normal" for goalkeepers to make mistakes. He also suggests he is "playing the best football" of his career, saying he is "ready for everything" at the Theatre of Dreams.

It's easy to forget De Gea is only 23 years old. He was relatively inexperienced when he arrived from Atletico Madrid three years ago, and there are few goalkeepers in the world who would have instantly replaced Edwin van der Sar's influence at the back. De Gea still has a lot to learn, but his display against Everton was typical of a player who consistently ranks among United's top performers. 

While his save from Leighton Baines' penalty was impressive enough—amounting to the full-back's first-ever Premier League miss from the spot—the last-gasp stops from Leon Osman and Bryan Oviedo can be considered two of the best saves seen in the division this season.

Baines' penalty was underpowered and slightly miscued, barely hitting wide of the goal's centre, but it needed assured contact from the keeper. Osman and Oviedo rifled their efforts from distance and forced two memorable moments of instinct from the player. De Gea offered a strong hand from the first, halting a thunderbolt strike in its path with little time to react.

His final save, however, saw the keeper leap toward the top-left corner and save with his right hand. Oviedo's strike was destined to provide Everton with a late draw, but the No. 1 clutched onto a vital win for the Red Devils.

United's official Twitter account posted a slow-motion breakdown of De Gea's final save:

BT Sport commentator and former United striker Michael Owen commented that De Gea should have used his other hand for the final save, analysis that was made fun of by Chelsea stopper Petr Cech:

Angel Di Maria, who was unfortunately given man of the match by Owen prior to De Gea's saves, suggested his Spanish team-mate deserved the plaudits. "David deserves this award more than myself," said Di Maria, reported by Andy Hunter of The Guardian. "He saved us throughout the game."

United's followers granted De Gea their vote, however, as noted on Twitter:

De Gea has been continually exposed due to the team's leaky defence across the past year. He seemed to lose a little confidence because of this, and in all honesty, has been left helpless for many of the goals conceded this season. That said, a defining display against Everton sends him into the international break with plenty to smile about.

One must consider just how long it will be before he is given a proper opportunity to impress for Spain. Iker Casillas' form has been poor for two years and he is heading toward the conclusion of his time with the national team. Despite being a decade younger, De Gea's development would see many managers pick him over the faltering World Cup winner.

United's ascension to fourth is surprising, especially when considering the lack of collective efficiency shown this season. Upcoming fixtures against Chelsea, Manchester City and Arsenal ensure De Gea's goal will be tested often in the next few weeks. He will need to be at his best to help gather vital points from these matches, and indeed, aid United's task of returning to the Champions League.