Mata and Mourinho seem to play down move talk

Lyndon Lloyd | Monday, 18 July 2016

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Updated As rumours continue to swirl regarding his future, a video clip doing the rounds is being taken as Juan Mata playing down speculation on social and other media while his new manager says there is a place for him at Old Trafford.

The brief video shared by a Manchester United fan shows the Spanish midfielder laughing with Red Devils fans, presumably outside that club's training facility at Carrington and saying, "Don't believe everything in social media and media stories," he said.

That is being seen as the midfielder playing down speculation that he could leave United, with Mata linked strongly with Everton and Valencia amid press reports that he isn't central to Jose Mourinho's plans.

Whispers from sources on Merseyside that a deal is advancing between the Blues and Mata grew in strength again towards the end of last week but there has been no confirmation from either club or the player's representatives thus far.

Mourinho has since said that his arrival shouldn't change Mata's situation and that the midfielder was not forced out of Chelsea while the Portuguese was at the helm and he was sold in January 2014.

Some have assumed that Mata would be down the pecking order under the new United manager but speaking from their pre-season tour of China, Mourinho disagreed:

“It is a strange question because I don't understand why he doesn't have a future,” he said. "I never pressed the club to sell him. It was his decision and only his decision and I don't like players that want to leave.

“Juan at our previous club was not so happy because he was not my first choice at that time. He wanted to play every game.

“He had a fantastic offer from a big club like Man United, he wanted to leave. My previous club had a great offer, we thought that was financially very much acceptable.

“In this moment I arrive, he's here, he works hard. He knows that I know he is a good player and he has space in the squad.

“But again until the 31st of August the market is open for every one of my players that is not happy.

“But, to be fair, I think he is. I think he is happy and I am not expecting him to ask to leave. I am expecting him to do what he is doing now, which is to fight for a place."

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