Over the past year or so Juan Mata has emerged as one of Manchester United‘s main leaders. He’s only been with the club since January of 2014 (coming over from Chelsea for a then club record £37.1 million), but he’s established himself as one of the faces of the franchise.
He’s often selected as one of the few players who get the honor of modeling the new kits in promos, and last year he blogged on the club’s official site. In other words, he’s a key spokesperson among players. With the David de Gea transfer saga reaching such a chaotic conclusion, the football world is wondering how the United #1 is taking it.
Obviously, De Gea isn’t talking about it right now, so Juan Mata is a good source. They two men are teammates for both club and country.
Mata insists that De Gea and Manager Louis van Gaal have no problem with each other.
“I’ve talked with him a lot. There have been hectic and stressful days but he is such a quiet, centred person, nothing changes,” said Mata of De Gea according to a report in the Manchester Evening News.
“The last two years David has been the best player in our team. His saves have earned us a lot of points. I have no doubt this will be a very good year, too.
“I don’t think there’ll be a problem with the club, the Coach or the fans. That’s what I perceive. The fans love him very much, he’s highly regarded by the club and the coach.”
“I think it will be the same. Herrera and I will continue saving on petrol.”
In the video below from Thomson Reuters Mata spoke about De Gea’s state of mind in the couple of days that immediately followed the transfer deadline day debacle.
“David is now focused in the national team,” Mata said.
“We have two very important games to try to win to be first in the group, and obviously he is going to be very professional as he always used to be,” he said. “He is my friend and I wish the best for him, but I’m sure he is going to manage the situation very well because he has always done it.”
Paul M. Banks owns, operates and writes The Sports Bank.net, which is part of the FOX Sports Engage Network. Banks, a former writer for the Washington Times, currently contributes to the Chicago Tribune RedEye edition. He also appears regularly on numerous talk radio stations all across the country. Catch him Tuesdays on KOZN Omaha.
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