Unemployed Juan Mata trains in London as ex-Man Utd chief executive and gives an update on the future

FORMER Manchester United star Juan Mata is now training in London after leaving Japanese side Vissel Kobe.

The 35-year-old Spanish midfielder revealed that he has not yet decided on his next destination in football.

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Mata is currently a free agent and has confirmed that he will not be hanging up his football boots just yet.

The Spaniard may have only played once for the club, coming on as a substitute in the final ten minutes of a 2-0 defeat to Sanfrecce Hiroshima last September.

But Mata still received a medal when Vissel Kobe were crowned J1 League champions that season.

Mata spoke about his future to the Spanish newspaper IF: “I haven’t left football yet and am not thinking of retiring. I am training here in London.

“As you know, I was in Japan, at Vissel Kobe. It was a unique experience, very different, both culturally and sportingly.

“We were able to win the league, which was a great end to my experience there.

“I like to gain experiences through football in different countries that I might not have had otherwise.

“I also like to keep competing to win competitions, and I hope I can continue to do that.

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“So yes, I will continue to play. I will take a few weeks to decide and prepare physically.”

Mata revealed he only trains in London as he still has a house here, after speculating his next club could be in the Premier League.

He continued: “No, it’s simply because I have a house here. I’ve spent a lot of time in England, both in London and Manchester.

“And I also have a physical trainer, fields, gyms… I know a lot of people here who prepare me, and I’ve done it before.

Looking to his future, the 2010 World Cup winner has not ruled out a move to Saudi Arabia.

He continued: “I don’t know. I haven’t stopped to decide, I just want to see the options that are out there.

“And from there, make an assessment at the competitive, family level and country level.”

In 2011, Mata signed for English club Chelsea for a fee of around £24 million from Valencia and became the team’s key player.

In his first two seasons he won the UEFA Champions League, the FA Cup and the UEFA Europa League.

Mata fell out of favor at Chelsea under newly appointed manager Jose Mourinho and was sold to United in January 2014 for a fee of £37.1 million.

He made 285 appearances over nine seasons at United, again winning the Europa League and FA Cup, as well as the EFL Cup and FA Community Shield.

The midfielder joined Galatasaray after his contract with United expired in the summer of 2022, where he won the first league title of his career before heading to Japan.

Meanwhile, Mata’s former teammate, who is also a free agent, David de Gea, is still looking for a club.

Although clubs from Saudi Arabia and England have shown interest in the former Red Devils goalkeeper, he is prioritizing a move to Spain with Barcelona a potential candidate.