Manchester United midfielder Juan Mata to decide between three transfer options in the summer
According to Catalan newspaper Sport (h/t Express), Manchester United midfielder Juan Mata has received offers from three different clubs ahead of the upcoming transfer window, with the player’s contract expiring in the summer.
The Spaniard is set to bring down the curtains on his long stay at Old Trafford when his current deal with the club runs out at the end of the season, having joined from Chelsea in the winter transfer window in 2014.
He was last seen in the 3-0 win against Brentford, making his first start of the campaign and playing an important hand in the victory. In what was likely to be his final home appearance for the club, the 34-year-old received warm applause from the supporters when he came off in the second half.
Now, he could be returning back home to Spain ahead of the new season, having received three offers from La Liga clubs. Available as a free agent, he would prove to be a fine addition to any side that manages to sign him up.
Return to La Liga on the cards
One of the teams interested in securing the services of the World Cup winner is Real Betis, who are keen to add more reinforcements and build on their recent Copa del Rey win. Mata has also received an offer from former club Valencia, where he was a fan favourite during his four years at the Mestalla Stadium.
Real Sociedad are the other club who have expressed an interest in signing the United man. They could yet tempt him to move to the Reale Arena in order to once again join forces with familiar faces in Adnan Januzaj and David Silva. While the former played with Mata at Old Trafford, the latter is an international team-mate as well as a rival, having played for Spain and Manchester City.
As things stand, there has been no indication from either the player or club about extending his stay at the Theatre of Dreams for a few more years. After establishing himself in the team in his initial years with the English giants, he has been reduced to playing a part-time role this season.
It may have surprised many fans to realise that it was only Mata’s first start of the campaign against Brentford recently, despite being in the business end of the season. The Spaniard grabbed that opportunity with both hands and made the most of it, impressing in midfield and keeping things ticking on the field.
More Manchester United News
- Transfer News: Manchester United have proposed a massive wage deal for Barcelona’s Ousmane Dembélé
- Manchester United suffer transfer blow for Inter Milan ace Lautaro Martinez as Arsenal renew interest in the striker
- Transfer News: Manchester United set to offer €100m for Barcelona’s Frenkie de Jong and Memphis Depay
That display may have been enough to convince the three Spanish sides interested in him that at 34, he still has enough in his locker to make a difference. If he chooses to accept any one of those offers, he will depart Manchester as one of the more recent successes that the Premier League club have had since the retirement of Sir Alex Ferguson in 2013.
Mata managed to lift the FA Cup, League Cup, and the Europa League with United during his time with the team. Fans will fondly remember him for his equalising goal in the FA Cup final which he went on to win, as well as the double he scored at Anfield to down bitter rivals Liverpool 2-1 in a thrilling victory.