It’s clear that Manchester United need to make a host of changes if they are to return to their former glory. On the first day of the 2022/23 season, they’ll have a new coach and a bunch of new players. One player who won’t be there is Juan Manuel Mata. The 33-year-old winger has been at Old Trafford for eight years now, but enough is enough. He’ll be heading back to Spain.Monday, 23.00: (1.58) Ath.Bilbao (3.90) Levante (6.25)Mata’s career in England has been winding down for some time now. This season he’s been on the pitch just 171 minutes under Ole-Gunnar Solskjaer and Ralf Rangnick. But for all the problems Manchester United have had this season, Mata wasn’t one of them. No moaning, no whining, no ‘cryptic messages’ on social media, no flirting with other clubs – just training and waiting.The Spaniard may now be considered too pacy for English football, but it doesn’t mean he is finished. Like his compatriot David Silva, who left Manchester City to join Real Sociedad, Mata could still play in his homeland and postpone retirement.Juan Mata played 39 games for Real Madrid Castilla having scored 10 goals before making a move to Valencia in 2007.An impressive career so far for the birthday boy.— Squawka Football (@Squawka) April 28, 2020 According to claims from The Athletic, several La Liga clubs would be happy to recruit the former Chelsea and Valencia man.Mata spent time as a youth with Real Oviedo and Real Madrid before making his name as a senior professional at Mestalla with Valencia. He joined Chelsea in 2011 before switching to United three years later. He’s played his football at Old Trafford since. He has scored 51 goals and made 47 assists in 277 games for United. He has also won the 2010 World Cup and Euro 2012 with the Spanish national team.
