Juan Mata is ‘weighing up his future at Manchester United’ amid a lack of game time this season with the midfielder ‘open to leaving in January’
- Juan Mata is reportedly considering his future at Manchester United
- The midfielder has not featured in the Premier League this season
- The 33-year-old is out of contract at the end of the 2021-2022 campaign
- He is said to be open to a move in January before his deal expires
Juan Mata is reportedly weighing up his future at Manchester United due to a lack of playing time this season.
The midfielder started United’s Carabao Cup defeat by West Ham last week but is yet to feature in the Premier League and was left out of the squad to face Aston Villa on Saturday.
The 33-year-old is out of contract at the end of the season and can negotiate a pre-contract agreement with an overseas club in January but the Manchester Evening News report that he would be open to leaving before his deal expires.
Juan Mata is reportedly weighing up his future at Man United amid a lack of playing time
Mata, who turns 34 in April, has been with United since 2014 and has made 274 appearances for the club.
His deal was extended by a year in July with Ole Gunnar Solskjaer hailing his experience and professionalism.
‘We are a young squad and that’s been part of the thinking,’ he told Manchester United’s website.
Mata is yet to feature in the Premier League and was left out of the squad to face Aston Villa
‘We have the professionals that can be an example day in and day out. Our young lads think they know it because we bring the up through the Academy and they do learn good habits. But then they come into the first team and see World Cup winners like Juan and the way he conducts himself, even if he doesn’t play.
‘He didn’t play as much as he would have liked to last year but he’s never ever letting himself or his team down with his attitude.
‘So [they are] good examples and Lee, as well, knows he’s got good goalkeepers ahead of him but the example he sets is something we have to reward them [for] and it makes the group better, and they’re still good players.’
The 33-year-old midfielder has won four trophies during his seven years at Old Trafford
The midfielder started his career with Real Madrid but did not make a first-team appearance before joining Valencia in 2007.
He then signed for Chelsea in 2011 and helped the club win their first ever Champions League in the following year.
Mata made the move to Old Trafford when he was signed by David Moyes for a then club record fee of £37.1million.
The midfielder has won four trophies during his time at United – the FA Cup, League Cup, Community Shield and Europa League.
