Manchester United midfielder Juan Mata has agreed a new one-year contract to stay at Old Trafford until next summer after his existing contract with the club expired at the end of June.
The new contract will take Mata into a ninth season as a United player, after joining Chelsea in January 2014 for what was then a club record fee of £ 37.1 million.
Mata has played 273 times for United but his role last season diminished significantly due to Bruno Fernande’s arrival in 2020 and Mason Greenwood’s continued rise, although personal circumstances also played a role in limiting him to less than 20 in total.
When he spoke about Mata’s future in May, United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjær explained that the player would have the last word if he were to stop or leave.
“He is responsible for his own future and he has been such a good servant for the club. But of course it is difficult, as I have said so many times, to leave good players out, good people from the team, “Solskjær explained then.
With United willing to offer a new contract, Mata has chosen to stay, despite the likelihood that he will remain a back-up player in a group that has now added Jadon Sancho to the mix.
Mata has been a favorite fan favorite since joining United. He scored ten goals in all competitions three seasons in a row between 2014 and 2017, including a famous strike against Liverpool at Anfield, and has won the FA Cup, EFL Cup and Europa League.
Mata played only 18 times in 2020/21 during a difficult personal year / Matthew Ashton – AMA / Getty Images
Even with a reduced playing role, his presence as an experienced manager with a proven record at the highest level will be of great benefit to United’s largely young and developing team.
For more from Jamie Spencer, follow him on Twitter and Facebook!
