Manchester United transfer news: Juan Mata responds to Old Trafford exit speculation

The Spain international told some young supporters to ignore what they read in the media

Mark Critchley
Monday 18 July 2016 07:07 EDT
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Mata's position at Old Trafford is rumoured to be under threat
Mata's position at Old Trafford is rumoured to be under threat (Getty)

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Juan Mata dismissed transfer speculation linking him with a move away from Manchester United in a short video with a young supporter on Sunday.

The video, published by the Twitter account OurUnitedStory, showed Mata talking to fans while sitting in a car with team-mate Ander Herrera.

In the short clip, Mata told one fan: “Don’t believe everything that social media and the media says.” When asked directly whether he will stay, he laughed.

Mata, 28, has been repeatedly linked away from Old Trafford following Jose Mourinho’s appointment as manager in May.

The Portuguese sanctioned Mata’s £37.1m move to United from Chelsea in 2014, despite fans voting him the west London club’s 'Player of the Year' for two consecutive seasons.

Mata, who has scored a total of 26 goals in 104 United appearances so far, faces stiff competition for a starting place in attacking midfield from Henrikh Mkhitaryan, Wayne Rooney, Memphis Depay and Jesse Lingard.

Espanyol and Everton, coached by Ronald Koeman, Mata’s former manager at Valencia, have been rumoured as potential destinations for the Spaniard.

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