Ole will have no one to blame when he gets sacked in Dec.
Juan Mata | Official: Signs two-year contract with option of a third
- Thread starter kouroux
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Started the talks offering a 1 year contract and ended up offering 3 years.
Ladies and Gentlemen, I present the negotiating gurus Ed Woodward and Matt Judge.
With the differing reports saying 2 and 3 years, I guess it's possible that it's one of our classics, 2 years with the option to extend for a third.
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I'll defend Woodward (and Ole, and the Glazers) more than most on here, but I'm not going to lie to you, this looks like a horrible summer so far.
It's not even that you've not brought anyone in yet, but you're not moving players along either. That's not good.
It's not even that you've not brought anyone in yet, but you're not moving players along either. That's not good.
Waiting Ashton Kutcher to pop out from somewhere.
A key line in that piece (I think) is "with the intention of him remaining at the club after he retires as a player." Given Mata's obvious off-the-pitch qualities, it shouldn't be that surprising that the club has plans for him beyond his playing career. Which is another reason one might prioritise losing others first at a time when there are so many who could happily be lost.
Exactly. People need to understand that if Gomes is genuinely this good, he will get chances and he can climb above Mata in the pecking order. That's how it always happens and will happen in the future as well
2 more years of pointless sideway passing from right to left in the last third of the pitch. Thats all i've seen from Mata in the last 3 seasons. Ah ok but he is a great guy and love the club so he deserves his contract extension...
It’s not a disaster keeping hold of him. He doesn’t have pace so he’s not going to lose that over the next two years. It does give us another option and provided he doesn’t play RW I think he’s a useful player.
If it’s 2 years I think that’s fine, if its 3 years surely they have to question what Matt Judge is doing. A 34 year old on likely £150k-£200k a week that isn’t a regular starter. That’s terrible business.
If it’s 2 years I think that’s fine, if its 3 years surely they have to question what Matt Judge is doing. A 34 year old on likely £150k-£200k a week that isn’t a regular starter. That’s terrible business.
Not sure why people are moaning. If he leaves on a free who will come in to replace him as a squad player? A like for like replacement is going to cost £40m in transfer fees alone. Despite what the vast majority of posters think, running United in real life is not the same as on Football manager. We have always had the likes of Mata in and around the first team squad. Good, solid pros who come in and give their all.
I remember the staying on at the club being mentioned before. I wonder in what role? I cannot imagine him coaching for some reason, ambassadorial? Maybe a role as a technical or DOF role?
If he is used say behind the striker, more in the middle he will be fine. He just doesn't cope out wide.
Cant wait to read attempts to spin this into " no biggie ", then start counting positives Mata provides, how it makes sense just like Young, Jones decisions etc.
I concur that he still has something to offer, and the wages aren't obscene for someone with his pedigree. This news is not great, but not terrible.
A multi year deal is fecking ridiculous. He's shit now. Imagine what he’s going to be like at 34!
A lot will depend on who else we sign as well.
There was absolutely no sense to the Young/Jones deal. At least Mata has some intelligence.
Official blogger/podcaster.
But seriously, he seems like an intelligent chap. Maybe he could help developing youth or something like that.
I often try to defend the club and put some perspective but that one is absolutely depressing. When you look at the amount of minutes played by Mata last season and the wage that he is supposed to have, extending him makes no sense.
Official Club Hugger.
He offered nothing last season so we give him more money and a long contract, this clubs a shambles.
3 years 
DELIGHTED. now, if we could bring back Berba and Fletcher as well... 
We have had good success over years with versatile players in their 30s reprising squad roles. If this helps de gea stay too it can't hurt. We are looking to change the culture of the club, keeping on an experienced player with a flawless attitude is fine. Crazy overreactions are from the 10 in 10 out brigade, who I personally think are so far out of touch with reality
He’s an intelligent player who never relied on his physicality and has an excellent injury record. He’ll age better than most. He finished the season in lousy form (like every other player in our squad) but on the rare occasion we have played well in recent years he’s usually involved. I’m glad he’s staying.
I am surprised they have given him this contract all in one go. A yearly rolling contract I don't think anyone would complain about.
If we can get in a right sided attacker I'd be more comfortable with this. We all like the bloke but please don't play him on the right. Decided anyway there is much of the window open and we can't replace everyone so just gonna chill about it and live in hope.
Agreed.
Can't recall him starting against many good teams. Chelsea end of season when we had nothing to play for only i can remember. Stats, schmats.
Well said.
Didn't he get injured before the PSG game and subsequently missed some time?
That is the point. If we sign a wide right player then fine. If he is the wide right player, then we have problems.
Well, they said it made sense back then, then they started spinning "what, you would like him to go for free!? this way we will get transfer fee for Jones this summer transfer window" line.
We are pretty consistent that way. Young, Jones and Smalling. Rojo last year.
He had a great season.
In looks, perhaps. He’s an extremely inefficient player on the football field now.
There's going to be waves of abuse when they announce this on twitter.
Cannot explain why they have given Mata a 3 year contract... just mindblowing.
Cannot explain why they have given Mata a 3 year contract... just mindblowing.
It's an interesting question. It might just be that the club vaguely realise that there is bound to be some post-playing role for him here given he has already displayed a certain level of capability in his work with Common Goal and his very polished public persona. If you were generally talent spotting players for future roles at the club then he is bound to stand out in that sense. Even just in an ambassadorial role Saint Mata is a no brainer.
It would be interesting to know if they actually have something specific in mind for him though.