Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
Manchester Evening News
Manchester Evening News
Sport
Daniel Murphy

Juan Mata doesn't rule out staying at Manchester United under Erik ten Hag

Juan Mata has not ruled out remaining at Manchester United for another season, revealing that a decision will be made on his future during a meeting with Erik ten Hag.

It has been a frustrating season for the Spaniard which has seen him rarely feature but he has fought his way back into the starting XI in the last two games, particularly impressing in the 3-0 win against Brentford. His lack of minutes throughout the year has led to the assumption that he will leave Old Trafford this summer.

Mata's contract with United will expire at the end of the season and it is expected that he will leave the club on a free transfer alongside Paul Pogba, Edinson Cavani, Nemanja Matic, Jesse Lingard and Lee Grant. However, the 34-year-old has revealed he has 'a conversation pending' with incoming manager Ten Hag before coming to a decision.

ALSO READ: Ralf Rangnick makes Manchester United admission after Erik ten Hag chat

“I will see when we speak how we feel" he told The Athletic. "What his ideas are, after that a decision will be made.”

Mata signed a one-year contract extension last summer on vastly reduced wages in order to remain at the club and he has also revealed his reasoning behind the decision.

"First because I love the club," he explained. "Second because I hoped I could give much more on the pitch than I ended up doing, and third because last season was horrible for me, for many reasons, especially because of the passing of my mum.

“It wasn’t an easy season at all with the pandemic and that personal tragedy,” he says. “I didn’t want to end my career at Manchester United that way, without fans in the stadium, with all that I have lived over the last months.

“I am gonna be very honest, when we made the signings we made I genuinely felt, ‘we are gonna really compete to win the Premier League now’. That’s why I renewed, I wanted to be part of that. One of the things I always say: winning a massive trophy with Manchester United would be an incredible feeling after being here for so many years, knowing the fans and everyone working in the club like I do.”

Sign up to our United newsletter so you never miss an update from Old Trafford this season.

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.