Mourinho takes a U-turn: Mata to stay at Man United!
Jul 21, 2016 at 3:55 PM
Juan Mata has been reportedly informed by Jose Mourinho he does have a future at Old Trafford but must accept the competition for starting place at United is quite fierce now.
The former Chelsea playmaker seemed almost destined to leave the Theatre of Dreams this summer since Mourinho was announced as Louis van Gaal’s replacement.
The 53-year-old Portuguese manager sold Mata to United in 2014 when he was in charge of Chelsea, despite the Spaniard winning back-to-back player of the year awards at Stamford Bridge before Mourinho’s arrival in 2013.
With the likes of Wayne Rooney, Henrikh Mkhitaryan, Adnan Januzaj, Memphis Depay and Anthony Martial all competing for spots behind Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Mata must accept he is not likely to command a regular spot. Mata managed to thrive in the final third under the tactics of Louis van Gaal and shouldn’t be dismissed as a Red Devil.
However, according to a report from The Sun, if Mata is ready to accept he’s part of a squad rotation policy, then Mourinho is happy to keep the Spanish midfielder.
The Spanish playmaker has been linked with moves to Everton, Valencia and Atletico Madrid this summer but the 28-year-old has a strong case for staying at Old Trafford given that he has created more clear-cut chances than any of his team-mates since moving to the club in January 2014.
With 21 goals in 86 games for United since his arrival at Old Trafford, fans have taken a real shine to the former Chelsea player and were, until now, lamenting the expected fate that was set to befall him.
With Mourinho now offering Mata the chance to remain on as part of a squad rotation policy, it looks like the player – who has often expressed his love for the club and his desire to remain – shall get his wish and become part of Mourinho’s title plans once more.