Juan Mata has made his feelings clear to Ruben Amorim that not all hope is lost for one first-team Manchester United player and the Red Devils at Old Trafford.
The 37-year-old Spaniard is currently playing for A-League Men side Western Sydney Wanderers, having signed for the Australian club as a free agent last September.
Juan Mata had been at J1 League outfit Vissel Kobe before his contract expired in January 2024 and he later completed his move to Western Sydney Wanderers.
The former Spain international left Old Trafford back in 2022 after his contract with Manchester United came to an end and he signed for Galatasaray as a free agent.
Mata made 285 appearances for the Red Devils during his spell and the former United star scored 51 times and registered 44 assists for the Premier League club.
The Western Sydney Wanderers player lifted the Europa League title, the FA Cup and the League Cup at United after his move from Premier League side Chelsea in 2014.
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Former Manchester United and Chelsea player Juan Mata and Tab Ramos visit the San Diego Jewish Academy in San Diego in 2024 in San Diego, California.
Photo by Manchester United/Manchester United via Getty Images
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Juan Mata sends clear-cut transfer stance to Man Utd and Ruben Amorim over Barcelona linked-Marcus Rashford
Juan Mata saw Marcus Rashford burst onto the scene at Old Trafford after the 27-year-old England star climbed out of the Manchester United youth academy.
Marcus Rashford broke into the United first team under former Red Devils boss Louis van Gaal and had been a mainstay in the senior squad after his emergence.
However, the England international’s future at Old Trafford was plunged into doubt after the arrival of ex-Sporting CP boss Ruben Amorim as United manager in 2024.
Rashford lost his place in the starting XI under Ruben Amorim and the United academy product was loaned out to Aston Villa back in the January transfer window.
Speaking to The Athletic, Mata has suggested that there could still be a “win-win situation” over Rashford if the former Aston Villa player remained at Old Trafford.
“As a Man United fan and as a friend of Marcus, I wish that he can succeed here because it’s his club, his boyhood club,” he said.
“I don’t know what’s going to happen but if he stays and he can actually be happy and enjoy, I think it will be a win-win situation for both the club and him.”
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What Juan Mata witnessed from Marcus Rashford first-hand at Man Utd after the former Aston Villa forward’s emergence
Marcus Rashford has been heavily linked with Barcelona and the United player has attracted interest this summer amid uncertainty around his Old Trafford future.
The United forward had spent the second of the 2024-25 Premier League season at Villa Park and Rashford was able to regain his place in the England national team.
Rashford impressed at times under Villa manager Unai Emery last season, but the Premier League club chose not to make his move permanent for a £40m fee.
Mata admitted that he dropped the nickname of “the wonderkid” on Rashford after he saw the United player show his “fearless” talent during his emergence at Old Trafford.
“I saw his first training [session] with us,” he said.
“I love him. As a kid, I called him ‘the wonderkid.’
“The way he played was fearless, you could feel he could win a game by himself at any time when he was playing at his best.”
Rashford’s loan deal with Premier League side Aston Villa expired on 30th June and the Barcelona-linked player is under contract with United until 2028.