Former Manchester United goalkeeper Massimo Taibi has compared his failed spell at Old Trafford to the start made by David de Gea.
Taibi arrived at United in 1999 for 4.5 million pounds, but made just four appearances in his only season with the club, and was moved on after a string of calamitous errors.
Spanish shot-stopper De Gea has also been guilty of several high-profile mistakes following his signing, for a reported fee of 17.6 million.
Taibi can see similarities between his struggle and De Gea's problems, but said United manager Sir Alex Ferguson has shown a faith in the newcomer which he was never afforded.
"In a sense I see a little of myself in De Gea, who initially had problems, but now he is being shown more confidence - something which I was not granted," Taibi told Goal.com
"As a result, he is now starting to prove his worth."
Italian Taibi made his debut in a 3-2 win over Liverpool, and was named man of the match after recovering from an early error.
However, a disastrous display against Chelsea saw Taibi concede five goals in a single match.
He left United at the end of the season, returning to Italy with Reggina.
"It was an important, if short, spell for me at Manchester United," he said.
"I learned so much, to live football in the most authentic manner, differently from how one lives in Italy, but I was put on the bench after I'd played only four games. Two of those were excellent but also two were negative."
"Ferguson didn't believe in me enough and gave me no time to prove my worth. I needed a period of acclimatisation, and instead there I was given none."
"I arrived in the August and was immediately picked to play, even though I didn't know the language or my team-mates well."
"The Premier League is unique, totally different from other European leagues. The biggest regret was that I didn't prepare with the rest of the team and I wasn't able to play in the Champions League. Certainly things could have been different."