While it’s safe to presume the Manchester United squad were very happy to see habitual winner Jose Mourinho named manager, one player who might not have been impressed was Juan Mata.
Mata had played for Mourinho at Chelsea for just a few months in 2013 when he was sold to us.
Since Mourinho’s appointment, rumours have been rife that Mata will be sold again.
At Wigan last weekend, when United won 2-0, Mata was received very warmly by Mourinho, who not only shuck the Spaniard’s hand like he did the other players, but put his arm around him and had a chat too.
In an interview with The Telegraph, Mourinho denies that Mata is on his way out of the club.
I sold Mata because he asked for that. Nobody in my previous club wanted to sell or push him. No, it was his decision, he was not the first option. We had a proposal from a big club like Man United. In this moment the numbers are going crazy so that number that looked very high [then], three years later it looks very cheap but my philosophy is I don’t want players that want to leave.
I think since the first day everything is clear between us. He’s a talented player and I don’t promise places to anyone. I promise respect and I like him so if he wants to stay and I think he wants to, yes, there is space for him and, yes, I think he can be useful to the club.