Pranav Nair
Juan Mata set to decide Manchester Untied future following £11.5million per year contract offer
Speaking on The Transfer Podcast (h/t The Express), Ian McGarry has revealed that Manchester United star Juan Mata has received an offer to continue his career in Saudi Arabia.
The lucrative offer will see the Spaniard net an impressive £11.5million per year. It is a significant improvement over the £8.3m he currently earns at United.
The 32-year-old has been at United for almost seven years now. He signed an extension in the summer 2019 but has struggled for game time under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.
“It’s our offer that Mata has an offer worth around $15million net per year to go and play in the Saudi Arabian league.”
The report refrains from naming the Saudi Arabian club who are interested in Mata. United will however need to mutually terminate the player’s contract if he is to accept the offer.
Mata’s contract at Old Trafford runs until 2021, with the club having the option for another year. While his role at United may not be critical as it once was, he remains a potent player capable of making a contribution.
It remains to be seen whether the club is willing to release a player who has two years left on his contract.
Mata’s father, who is also his agent, remains confident that United will agree to terminate his son’s contract. The report goes on to add that while the player is yet to make a decision, he could very well be tempted to agree.
“Mata himself is yet to commit; however, at those kind of numbers you would have to think he would be tempted.”
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If the deal goes through, he will join the likes of Bafetimbi Gomis, Sebastian Giovinco and Ahmed Musa in the Saudi Pro League.
Mata captained Untied to their 3-0 win over Brighton in the Carabao Cup. He put in a man of the match performance on the night at the Amex Stadium.
While he is not a starter, Mata remains a capable squad player. Given his age, United will do well to cash in on him and build for the future.
Whether they are willing to let a player who cost £37million leave for free could be entirely another matter.
