On Thursday, Manchester United announced the departure of Spanish playmaker Juan Mata after eight years at Old Trafford.
“Mata will leave the club this summer at the end of his contract,” a statement on the club’s website reads.
United appear to be entering a reconfiguration phase with new Dutch manager Eric Ten Hag taking over from next season, replacing German Ralf Rangnick. The departure of French international Paul Pogba was announced on Wednesday after six years of his second spell with the team and Jesse Lingard.
Mata joined the Red Devils in the 2014 transfer window from Chelsea, when the London club was managed by Portuguese manager José Mourinho.
Mata played a big role in the team in his first season and his goal remains the most famous knockout he scored at Anfield against Liverpool and was voted the club’s best goal of the 2014-2015 season.
Under Dutch coach Louis van Gaal he won the FA Cup in 2015-2016 and with Mourinho at United he won the 2016 Community Shield, the League Cup and the Europa League in 2017, the last two titles the team has won .
