[bosnian_red]

We really do some strange contract extensions. Wish I could get paid so much to just be all buddy buddy with people but not really provide anything that my actual job is for
I love Mata, but he's 33 and has been pretty much useless for a few years now. This past season in particular he has no role.

 

[Idxomer]

Agree with this. I like Mata but paying that money for someone who will play in the Carabao Cup's first few rounds and is well-liked in the locker room seems ridiculous.

And those minutes should be going to Hannibal and Amad anyway.

 

[SATA]

Thought he wanted to play more? Now it seem he’s content to just play a bit part role at the club when he could go to Italy or Spain for more playing minutes

 

[TheRedDevil'sAdvocate]

Is it a new deal or are we just being respectful to him by allowing him to make up his mind about whether he wants +1 year extension to be activated? As far as i remember he had signed for 2+1 years in 2019. If we are to believe the rumours, he was eyeing a move to Lazio on the condition that they would qualify for CL but they didn't make it. I thought it was a bad idea to renew his contract back in 2019 but it could be explained by the fact that we went into that season depending heavily on the likes of Lingard and Pereira. Nevertheless, Mata failed to have any meaningful impact on the pitch during these two seasons. I wouldn't be surprised, if we offer him a new deal though and i'm not angry at the player. It just seems like such a ... United thing to do nowadays.

 

[Ali Dia]

You can't make this up, he shouldn't have gotten the last extension but here we are years later negotiating another contract.

But if Phil Jones got one, nothing should be that much of a surprise anymore.

its true but if it’s just to hold a place for youth to get another years experience then whatever. He’s on an awful lot for someone who doesn’t play though. I’ve decided to not get worked up about the squad players getting deals and the owners way of propping up the value of the squad without spending on better backups. Ole rarely uses the squad anyway…

 

[charlenefan]

he’s been there to cover a position we have little experience in and be a squad player. This season was certainly affected by family circumstances.

these will be the same reasons if he stays next season - you can argue whether this is valid, or whether he’s needed. As I said, I think now is the time for him to go.

the point in he’s not being offered playing contracts because of some behind the scenes activities.

Last time I'm going to say this... you don't know that

 

[hubbuh]

If his contract is in line with his contribution then fair enough - circa 50k seems generous enough. Paying him millions because he's a nice guy to have around is insanity, though totally in check with how we typically handle renewals.

 

[ClaytonBlackmoorLeftPeg]

Last time I'm going to say this... you don't know that

yes I do. Do you think we give playing contracts out to players because they call out the bingo numbers at the Xmas party?

 

[Roboc7]

Shouldn’t even have been considered for a new deal, at this point he’s nowhere near good enough and will just take minutes that could go to youngsters.

Really odd Mata himself doesn’t want to leave given how little he plays.

 

[SAFMUTD]

Then we wonder how is that we have one of the highest wages in the world with a squad thats miles away from other top clubs...well this it how.

 

[CM]

If it's just the one year extension I suppose that's fair enough. He's very much on his last legs but Lingard is likely to leave and van de Beek hasn't exactly set the world alight when he's had the opportunities.

I think if this does happen it's as much about having an experienced pro around the squad as anything else. I imagine he's a great player to learn off for the likes of Amad, Hannibal and Shoretire.

 

[0le]

If it's just the one year extension I suppose that's fair enough. He's very much on his last legs but Lingard is likely to leave and van de Beek hasn't exactly set the world alight when he's had the opportunities.

I think if this does happen it's as much about having an experienced pro around the squad as anything else. I imagine he's a great player to learn off for the likes of Amad, Hannibal and Shoretire.

It is not fair enough. It was fair enough several years ago. This is supposed to be high level professional sports, not a care home for the elderly.

 

[Ekeke]

Club confirmed today they are still negotiating a possible new deal with Mata (and Grant).

Let the outrage ensue.

Surely we dont need both Fred the Red and Mata as our mascots? Choose 1 and let the other go

 

[CM]

It is not fair enough. It was fair enough several years ago. This is supposed to be high level professional sports, not a care home for the elderly.

This is the sort of thing everyone would (or at least should) be fairly ambivalent about provided we get the recruitment right elsewhere.

If we sign the players who need to be signed I couldn't give a toss whether Mata stays or goes, frankly. If at the end of the transfer window we choose not to sign a player we need on the basis of keeping Mata around, I could understand the frustration. But until that time what is the point venting? We don't even know if it's definitely happening yet or what the proposed terms are.

 

[Based Adnan]

Waste of money and the 15 games he'll be getting next season should go elsewhere, he's done

 

[Mark_Barca]

I really like Mata and believe he would have flourished under someone like Guardiola, but this is absolutely crazy. He started less than 10 games last season.

Honestly struggling to come up with one valid footballing reason to offer him a new deal!

 

[hubbuh]

I really like Mata and believe he would flourished under someone like Guardiola, but this is absolutely crazy. He started less than 10 games last season.

Honestly struggling to come up with one valid footballing reason to offer him a new deal!

There are absolutely no valid footballing reasons for offering him a new deal. Shoretire, Hannibal, Elanga, Amad etc. should all be ahead of him.

 

[sullydnl]

I really like Mata and believe he would flourished under someone like Guardiola, but this is absolutely crazy. He started less than 10 games last season.

Honestly struggling to come up with one valid footballing reason to offer him a new deal!

Last season is a bit difficult to judge him by as he missed a large chunk of a very busy period due to his personal issues. I would imagine he would have featured a fair bit more otherwise.

 

[Mark_Barca]

Last season is a bit difficult to judge him by as he missed a large chunk of a very busy period due to his personal issues. I would imagine he would have featured a fair bit more otherwise.

Possibly, but he was on the bench and never got subbed in on 25 ocassions. Whilst there was 5 other times he came on for the last few minutes or a late sub to waste time/take a penalty. Unless Fernandes gets injured he's not going to feature much especially if someone like Sancho is signed. His wages would be of more use elsewhere in my view.

 

[Matriac]

It's of course also possible that we're giving him extra time to work out his new deal elsewhere while he technically has an offer from us so he doesn't have to appear desperate out of respect instead of saying outright he has been released now.
But we had to make a statement now because of those 6 youngsters released who has to try and find new clubs now.


But I also wouldn't mind giving him another year if he accepts lower wages.

 

[Castia]

Why would he get a new deal? this 'he's good around the changing room ' stuff is bollocks he's a pro player who's been finished at the top level for 2 years and is on a reported £160k a week deal.

Time to say goodbye, he's simply not good enough anymore.

 

[MadMike]

Club confirmed today they are still negotiating a possible new deal with Mata (and Grant).

Let the outrage ensue.

More like shrug at this stage. We renewed Matic and Jones till 2023 and Bailly till 2024. This isn't even remotely surprising.

I don't mind him here, but would prefer his minutes to go to Amad or Elanga. After all, Ole evidently doesn't trust him enough to play him in important games, no matter how badly the starting XI is doing or how suited he is to the game. What's the pointing in keeping a senior player if you're only going to play him in dead rubber games? Might as well give opportunities to young players in those games.

 

[Smores]

So much for getting our act together. What an insane decision if he does actually get a contract.

 

[edgecutter]

I was baffled when he got his last extension, but this is insane.

 

[SadlerMUFC]

Juan Mata was our player of the month in September and could barely get a sniff in the team. I'd have no problem with Ole not playing guys like Mata if he was giving those minutes to a young player like Dialo instead. but seeing as he wasn't, Ole should have used Mata more often. Especially against teams who like to sit back in a low block. But if Ole isn't going to play him, then why give him an extension?

 

[Gandalf]

I would not get too upset by this before anything is signed. The last extension included the option of an additional year for 2021/22 which we could trigger at any time so the fact we are discussing a contract suggests we want Juan to stay but not on his previous terms. If we are looking to keep him on a reduced wage and possibly start introducing him to the coaching side of things that could well be a positive move. I certainly don't think we are in the process of offering him a pay raise and guaranteeing him 30+ games next season and it is still entirely plausible that he turns us down if he gets a better offer.

 

[Red Star One]

That would be flabbergasting but my tolerance for decisions I find completely baffling has increased a lot over last years.

 

[justsomebloke]

I really don't get this. Mata is clearly done at this level.

 

[#07]

Wait until we are told United can't afford new players cos our wage bill is too high...

 

[ClaytonBlackmoorLeftPeg]

Wait until we are told United can't afford new players cos our wage bill is too high...

i don’t agree with offering him a contract, but when has our wage bill restricted spending?

 

[Oranges038]

I'm convinced there is some accounting reason for these decisions. Must be allowed to put these lads under fixed assets or to write off or cancel out something somewhere.

 

[#07]

i don’t agree with offering him a contract, but when has our wage bill restricted spending?

I feel like they brief it to the papers every summer when we don't invest.

 

[charlenefan]

yes I do. Do you think we give playing contracts out to players because they call out the bingo numbers at the Xmas party?

you're just being obtuse now, I'm done with you

 

[lsd]

We are not in the dressing room and don't see the influence people like Mata can have on the team and how it can benefit players

 

[RedStarUnited]

We are not in the dressing room and don't see the influence people like Mata can have on the team and how it can benefit players

is it showing on the pitch?

 

[marktan]

If Mata gets renewed then this club really is insane. £160k a week for what? Aguero, Silva etc where of more use when City let them go

 

[Luke1995]

Thought he wanted to play more? Now it seem he’s content to just play a bit part role at the club when he could go to Italy or Spain for more playing minutes

Could he do that, really ?

There must be a reason why Valencia isn't eager to get him back for example. Or the likes of Villarreal and Atletico Madrid aren't going after him.

Maybe he has limited options and United is the best one, who knows. Seems like that for me...

I still think he could have a role to play in cup games. To what extent, is unclear. Obviously the likes of Mejbri should get more minutes. But we need squad depth anyways.

 

[Andrew7582]

We are not in the dressing room and don't see the influence people like Mata can have on the team and how it can benefit players

We haven't won anything in 4 years so his influence isn't doing us much good is it, how is this fragile dressing room going to manage without him when he retires very soon? I think the explanation is something like what Oranges038 said, some sort of creative accounting thing.

 

[Red00012]

If his contract is in line with his contribution then fair enough - circa 50k seems generous enough. Paying him millions because he's a nice guy to have around is insanity, though totally in check with how we typically handle renewals.

Circa £50K is £200K a month and over 2 million during a season for a player who will play in the carabao cup ?

Get Mata out and give Mejbri his minutes its simple really.

 

[El Jefe]

The same people that say they're ok with this extension will be the ones saying "look at our bench, who could Ole bring on that could make a difference" when Ole refuses to make subs again next season.