Manchester United Must Keep Juan Mata Beyond the January Transfer Window

Juan Mata’s start to life at Manchester United couldn’t have been more emphatic. Flown in on a state-of-the-art helicopter, suavely dressed, the Spanish playmaker stepped out ready to meet his new team-mates at United’s training ground with the world’s media eagerly anticipating his arrival. It was an entrance befitting of someone with superstar status.

Mata, however, is not your everyday superstar. Quiet, humble and remarkably likeable, he is unnervingly cool. In a recent interview with Spanish outlet El Pais, Mata opened up and reflected on his nine-month spell at United.

The 26-year-old talked, among other things, about living within “100 metres” of close friends Ander Herrera and David de Gea, as well as being “proud” to play for United. In a very personal interview, Mata suggested he’s settled in Manchester.

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Now in his fourth season in England, Mata finds himself playing for his seventh manager in three years. Twice named Player of the Year at Chelsea and with eight goals in 22 appearances since joining United, it would appear that such a lack of continuity hasn’t stopped him from thriving. 

Just a year ago, Mata was viewed by many as one of the best No. 10s in the Premier League. A dozen goals and a dozen assists during a stellar 2012/13 campaign reinforced that. At 25 and with a Champions League medal to his name, Mata looked set to have a lengthy career at Chelsea.

Jose Mourinho’s return to Stamford Bridge last season changed that, however, and Mata played just 846 minutes of Premier League football before leaving the blue of Chelsea for the red of United in January. The fact that he’s already played 513 minutes in seven appearances this season illustrates how marginalised he was at Chelsea.

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Mata’s decision to join United was therefore driven by the need to be playing regular football ahead of this summer’s World Cup.

Ten goals and assists from 15 games, at a time when United failed to win more than two successive Premier League games under David Moyes and then Ryan Giggs, represented a fantastic return.

Mata was arguably United’s best player in the second half of the 2013/14 season, despite being played out of position on a number of occasions. Even when Giggs dropped him for his first game in charge against Norwich City, Mata came off the bench to score twice in 10 minutes.

In good form, Mata got his wish and was part of the Spain squad that travelled to Brazil. It was unsurprising that he was unable to command a starting spot in a star-studded lineup, but a wonderful goal against Australia was a reminder of his ability.

In the space of five months, Mata went from Chelsea’s bench to United’s starting XI and a World Cup, thus justifying his decision to make the switch from London to Manchester.

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When Louis van Gaal took charge of United in July and made significant tactical changes, it appeared that Mata would be the Dutchman’s go-to No. 10.

Mata scored an exquisite lob against Roma in pre-season and Van Gaal labelled him as one of the best passers at the club.

Radamel Falcao’s signing on the final day of the transfer window, however, signalled a change of fortunes for Mata. With all his players fit and available, it seemed likely that Van Gaal would choose to play Falcao, Rooney and Robin van Persie in attack.

But with Falcao still reaching full fitness after a lengthy lay-off, Mata started in the next game against Queens Park Rangers, impressing throughout and scoring the fourth and final goal in a comfortable win.

It therefore came as a surprise when Van Gaal expressed the view he was “not so satisfied with Rooney as a striker and Mata as midfielder,” per Mark Ogden of The Telegraph, ahead of the following game against Leicester City, in which Mata was replaced by Rooney at No. 10.

The exciting and dynamic football United played before the second-half capitulation seemed to have vindicated Van Gaal’s decision, at least until Rooney picked up a three-game suspension for his red card at home to West Ham United.

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In the two games since, against Everton and West Bromwich Albion, Mata has disappointed. A fine assist for Angel Di Maria’s goal against the former highlighted what he can offer, but it was telling that he was replaced by Falcao when United needed to score an equaliser against the latter.

Mata simply hasn’t done enough in those two games to suggest that Van Gaal will opt for the Spaniard’s creativity over Rooney’s all-round ability when the Englishman returns.

It’s been a strange nine months for Mata, and it seems stranger still that this weekend’s game against Chelsea could be his last chance to convince Van Gaal that he has a long-term future at United.

If there’s one saving grace for Mata right now, it’s Van Persie’s alarming drop in form. The Dutchman has been a peripheral figure in United’s first half a dozen games this season, meaning there’s an argument to drop him over Mata and play Rooney as a striker.

Whatever happens in the next few weeks, it seems that Mata will have to convince Van Gaal he deserves a place in his team.

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There are many reasons why United should keep Mata.

Off the pitch, Mata has connected well with the club’s fans through his weekly blog. He’s fairly active on social media, and he’s only ever in the news for positive reasons. He is a likeable character and an ambassador for the club without being appointed in such a capacity.

Mata will also play a crucial role in helping Di Maria, Herrera, Falcao and Marcos Rojo settle into life at United. De Gea and Rafael da Silva speak English confidently, but it’s Mata who is the bridge between the English- and Spanish-speaking players in the dressing room. Selling Mata could have the unwanted knock-on effect of upsetting other players.

On the pitch, Mata is rarely injured and offers a creative spark. Given the chance, played solely as a No. 10, he will shine. His lack of physical strength and speed is naturally a concern, but few players in United's squad are as technically assured as Mata. 

To cash in on Mata after a year would scream of mismanagement.

There are other players who should be dropped or sold ahead of Mata, which is why United and Van Gaal should hold on to their Spanish playmaker during the January transfer window and beyond.


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