Jose Mourinho confirmed that he didn’t want Juan Mata to leave Chelsea during his time in charge, with the Spaniard himself being eager to move to Manchester United.
Mata joined Chelsea back in 2011 from Valencia, and enjoyed three very successful years at the club, winning their Player of the Year award two seasons on the bounce, but that all changed when Mourinho returned to Stamford Bridge in the summer of 2013.
The 28-year-old’s game time was drastically reduced that season, resulting in his switch to United in the 2014 winter transfer window. Mata eventually established himself at Old Trafford, but following the Portuguese’s appointment this summer many believed he would be on the move again.
However the Spanish international appears to have worked his way into Mourinho’s plans this season, with the United boss now lifting the lid on what happened between the pair at Chelsea.
“First of all, I didn’t sell him,” the Portuguese told his pre-match press conference (via Goal). “My job is not to buy and sell. My job is to coach, to work on the pitch and to advise my board about the transfer policy. Secondly, it was Juan that asked to leave and when a player asks to leave I think always you have to think twice.
“And the third point is that my idea for football with the squad and objectives we had at Chelsea is one thing, and the squad I have at Man United and the profile and what I try to do with this club is a completely different situation. So Juan at Chelsea in my project was one player, and Juan in my project at Man United is another thing.”
Mata, who earns £170,000-a-week, has scored two goals and created five chances in five Premier League appearances this term, with a shot accuracy of 83%, as the Red Devils sit sixth on 12 points, one behind the top four and six adrift of rampant leaders Manchester City.
Next up for them is a home clash with Zorya in the Europa League on Thursday night, before taking on Stoke City this weekend.
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