Juan Mata has insisted that Manchester United goalkeeper David de Gea is deserving of far more praise than he currently receives.
The 27-year-old has kept a Premier League-high nine clean sheets so far this season and produced a memorable display to restrict Arsenal earlier this month.
De Gea is often hailed by United supporters, but Mata is shocked that his club and international teammate was recently voted as only the seventh-best keeper in the world in a poll for France Football magazine.
"You know what? I don't know why some people don't appreciate him and how good he is," Mata told reporters. "He's not always on the list of the best goalkeepers in the world, or whatever these awards are, and, for me, it's definite.
"I see his games week in and week out and can see he is great and fantastic. He has to be in the top three, top two or top one.
"For me, he's the best and it would be nice if more journalists, not just in England as he is very well appreciated in England, but in different countries, realised how good he is."
Thibaut Courtois and Hugo Lloris, of Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur respectively, were among those ranked higher than De Gea by a panel of former goalkeeping greats.
Daniel Lewis
