Juan Mata Reveals Family Urged Him to Leave Manchester United Amid Fears of Jose Mourinho Freeze-Out

Juan Mata, a former Manchester United star, has shared how his family, particularly his grandad, encouraged him to leave the club in 2016 after Jose Mourinho's appointment as manager. Mata, who had signed with United from Chelsea in 2014 for a then-club record fee of £37.1million, chose to ignore the advice and fight for his place in the team. He went on to make 285 appearances for Manchester United and eventually left the club in June 2022.

Key Takeaways:

Juan Mata's family, including his grandad, urged him to leave Manchester United after Jose Mourinho's appointment as manager in 2016, fearing he would be frozen out.
Mata chose to ignore the advice and stay to fight for his place in the team, making 285 appearances for Manchester United.
He has a positive relationship with Mourinho, playing under him and winning several titles together.
Mata signed with Turkish Super Lig team Galatasaray in 2022 as a free agent and also had a brief spell with Japanese side Vissel Kobe in 2023.
He currently plays for Australian outfit Western Sydney Wanderers.
Mata praises the quality of living in Sydney and the growth of the A-League, saying it's a great place to be.

Statistics:

Mata made 285 appearances for Manchester United during his seven-and-a-half year spell with the club.
He signed with Manchester United from Chelsea in January 2014 for a then-club record fee of £37.1million.
Mata played under several Manchester United managers, including Louis Van Gaal, David Moyes, and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.
He made his debut for Manchester United in August 2014.
Mata currently plays for Western Sydney Wanderers, joined in September last year.
The A-League is growing, with both the quality of living in Sydney and the league's growth praised by Mata.

Sources:

[Fozcast podcast, where Juan Mata shared his story]
[Manchester United's kit designer and supplier]