Mourinho was in charge at Chelsea when Stamford Bridge was left by Mata to join United in January 2014. Player of the Year awards consecutively were won by him in the two previous seasons there.
“He’s here and he works hard. He knows that I know he is a good player and he has space in the squad. UntilAAugust 31Athe market is open for every one of my players that is not happy, but to be fair I think he is (happy),” Mourinho told the BBC.
“I think he is happy and I am not expecting him to ask to leave. I am expecting him to do what he is doing now, which is to fight for a place. a?We have 38 matches in the Premier League, we expect to play a lot of them in the Europa League and domestic cups so in a squad of, let’s say, 22 players, there will be a space for everyone. So, yes, there is a space for Juan,” Mourinho added.
Six goals were scored by Mata in 38 Premier League appearances last season as United finished fifth in the standigs. Since his arrival in May, Unitedas squad has been encouraged by Mourinho by signig defender Eric Baily, midfielder Henrikh Mkhitaryan and striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic. According to media reports, Paul Pogba from Serie A champions Juventus is being pursued by him.
The 53-year-old declined to comment on the Frenchman’s possible return to United, but said he has three different choices for his final major transfer.
Mourinho’s first game in charge will be against Bundesliga side Borussia Dortmund in the International Champions Cup in Shanghai.
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