Jose Mourinho’s Manchester United have found some decent form since the turn of the year as they remain unbeaten till date this year. The manager will be relatively happy with the way his team has responded to an ordinary start to the campaign and he will now be looking to plan for the future. Mourinho has started getting his first team players to sign new contracts at the club but one player who is not offered a new deal yet is Spanish playmaker Juan Mata. And Recently, the player himself has stated that he would love to play in La Liga again.
The 28-year old has been consistent for Manchester United this season, scoring some important goals and putting in some decent performances. However, Mourinho wants to add a big name to his squad and wants to replace Mata in the squad and is ready to sell him. This will be the second time in 5 years that Mata is considered surplus to requirements by Jose Mourinho but here are three reasons why Mourinho should avoid selling him this time around:
His age:
The Spaniard is currently a senior player in the squad and at 28, he is in his prime as a footballer. He has enough experience at the highest level to help Manchester United out of tough positions and this experience might be the difference between winning and losing crunch games. Mata is a top class player who has all the makings of being an impact player for Mourinho and though the manager does not view him as first team material, he is a player who can help them in the long-term and selling him would be nothing less than a mistake.
Lack of replacements:
The summer transfer window is sure to give Jose Mourinho some top class options to improve on his squad but it is hard to see the manager replace the Spaniard’s experience along with his attributes. Mata is currently settled at the Old Trafford and will only get better if he plays regularly. Mourinho does not see him as a regular starter at the club but it will be hard for the manager to find a player who can replace Mata in the pecking order. The manager will be willing to spend millions on a top transfer target but surely, Mata is an option he should have under his belt for crunch times.
His returns:
In the previous season, Mata scored 6 goals, making him the third highest goal scorer for Manchester United while his tally of 7 assists was the highest for the Red Devils. He has always been an impact player and though he has not been consistent under Jose Mourinho, he is more than capable of winning games single-handedly. A successful dribbles % of 60.8% and a key passes per game value of 1.40, Mata is right up there with the most productive Manchester United players this season as well, and that, playing once in 10 days. He is an impact player as he has shown time and again and Manchester United will be better off having him in their squad than without him.
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