Ole Gunnar Solskjaer confirms Juan Mata will decide his own Man Utd future

Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has confirmed that Juan Mata is ‘in charge of his own future’ as his contract at Old Trafford nears its expiration, although no decision has yet been made over whether he will stay or go.

Mata signed a new two-year deal shortly before his last deal was due to expire in 2019. His existing contract does include an option to extend it until 2022 and the discussion between player and club appears to be over whether that is triggered or he leaves on a free transfer.

Mata, who turned 33 in April, was formerly United’s record signing when he arrived from Chelsea in January 2014 and scored 10 goals in all competitions three years in a row from 2014 to 2017. But his game time has been severely limited in 2020/21, with only 16 appearances in total.

“I’ve kept the dialogue with Juan and we’re due to speak again very soon.  Of course, he’s not played as much as he’d like and that’s a decision that we’ll make with him,” Solskjaer said of the situation, via ManUtd.com, ahead of this week’s final home game of the season against Fulham.

“He’s in charge of his own future and he’s been such a good servant for the club,” he added. “But of course, it’s hard, as I’ve said so many times, to leave good players out, good people out of the team.

“It’s about what does he want as his next step in his career? Is it [to] still play out his career here, or is it going somewhere else? We haven’t made a final decision yet.”

In case it is the last game he plays at Old Trafford, Mata could well feature against Fulham as a possible farewell, especially as it is the first game in well over a year that fans are allowed to attend.

Still a fan favourite, the Spaniard played 90 minutes of the recent defeat against Leicester and has at least been named in the squad for the last six Premier League games in a row.

Anthony Martial could return to the squad after missing the last 13 games in all competitions through injury. However, Harry Maguire is still sidelined and remains a major doubt for the Europa League final against Villarreal later this month, as well as Euro 2020 with England.

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