Jose Mourinho reckons Juan Mata is in his ‘natural habitat’ at Manchester United – nearly three years after giving him the boot at Chelsea.
The Spaniard’s Old Trafford future was in doubt over the summer following Mourinho’s appointment to the hot seat.
Mata’s career at Chelsea came to an abrupt end in January 2014 after failing to force his way into Mourinho’s plans, and he was eventually offloaded to United for £37million.
But the 28-year-old has played a starring role for the Red Devils so far, and according to SunSport he’s now in line for a lucrative new contract.
It’s a remarkable U-turn in the relationship between Mata and Mourinho.
But the Portuguese tactician believes his playmaker is more suited for United than Chelsea, adding it was Mata who requested to leave in 2014 and not the other way around.
Speaking ahead of his side’s Europa League clash with Zorya, Mourinho said: “[Chelsea] were playing in a defensive block when we won the title in 2014- 15, and it’s one thing having players for that and another having players trying to play in a different way and we are trying to play in a different way.
“[Mata] is very adaptive with his qualities. He has found a very good natural habitat with us.
“First of all, I didn’t sell him. 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.”
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