DE GEA NAMED IN FIFA TEAM OF THE YEAR FOR 2017

DE GEA NAMED IN FIFA TEAM OF THE YEAR FOR 2017

Report by Adam Higgins

In recognition of his phenomenal performances for Manchester United and Spain, David De Gea has been named in the inaugural EA SPORTS FIFA Team of the Year. 

The 27-year-old was among 55 players who were originally shortlisted for inclusion by EA SPORTS based on their real-life performances throughout 2017.

The starting XI was then voted for by a select list of athletes, media and members of the EA SPORTS FIFA community, who were all asked to create a team that consisted of a goalkeeper, four defenders, three midfielders and three forwards. These were later shared on Twitter using the hashtag #TOTYVote.

De Gea's inclusion in the EA SPORTS FIFA Team of the Year has arrived after he was recently included on the 30-man shortlist for the 2017 Ballon D'Or, which was won by United legend Cristiano Ronaldo.

Congratulations to David! 

Check out the team in full: David De Gea (Manchester United); Marcelo (Real Madrid), Sergio Ramos (Real Madrid), Leonardo Bonucci (AC Milan), Dani Alves (Paris Saint-Germain); N'Golo Kante (Chelsea), Luka Modric (Real Madrid), Kevin De Bruyne (Manchester City); Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid), Harry Kane (Tottenham Hotspur), Lionel Messi (Barcelona).

RACE FOR THE GOLDEN GLOVE

De Gea's shut-out in Monday's 3-0 win over Stoke City means he has now kept 13 clean sheets in the Premier League this season – which is more than any other keeper.

David is currently one ahead of Chelsea stopper Thibault Courtois and has two clean sheets more than Manchester City's Ederson, while Hugo Lloris of Tottenham Hotspur has 10 to his name. 

Our no.1 has never won the Golden Glove award and was most recently pipped to the prize by Courtois last season, although he has an excellent chance this campaign with the help of our mean defence.

A NEW CONTRACT IN THE WORKS

Jose Mourinho hopes the club will soon agree a new long-term contract for De Gea, who is closing in on 300 appearances for the club following his 2011 transfer from Atletico Madrid.

In the short term, however, the manager revealed at the weekend that United will trigger a clause in the current deal that will extend the goalkeeper's stay for at least another another 12 months.

"A goalkeeper like he is, at a club that wants to be better and better and better – we are not going to let that option go away," Mourinho told reporters. "We are going to try. I just say what is obvious and any one of you would say the same: David is to keep."