Juan Mata has admitted that there were people “freaking out” after the first words a former Manchester United star uttered in the Carrington dressing room.
The 36-year-old Spaniard is currently a free agent after he made his exit from J1 League club Vissel Kobe back in January.
Juan Mata went on to have brief spells at Turkish side Galatasaray and Japanese club Vissel Kobe after his departure from Manchester United in 2022.
The ex-Spain international was one of two major signings for former United manager David Moyes at Old Trafford before the Scotsman was axed from the club in 2014.
Mata, who arrived from Chelsea in a £37.1m deal in 2014, went on to play for former United managers Louis van Gaal, Jose Mourinho and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.
The 2010 World Cup winner made 285 appearances for United and scored 51 times and registered 43 assists for the Red Devils.
During his time at Old Trafford, Mata lifted a Europa League, an FA Cup and a League Cup with United.
Mata on former Man Utd star’s first words
Speaking to FourFourTwo magazine, Juan Mata has opened up about the arrival of one former Manchester United star under Jose Mourinho.
Jose Mourinho arrived at Old Trafford in 2016 and replaced Louis van Gaal as United manager after the Dutchman was sacked.
The 61-year-old Portuguese manager strengthened his United squad with the likes of Paul Pogba and Zlatan Ibrahimovic arriving at Old Trafford.
Zlatan Ibrahimovic was reunited with former Inter Milan and Chelsea boss Mourinho after he left Paris Saint-Germain and completed a free transfer to United.
Mata has revealed that the 42-year-old Swedish former striker stunned the Carrington dressing room with his first words before Ibrahimovic started laughing.
“They were two players with a lot of charisma,” he said.
“I had more of a relationship with Paul because we spent more time together, but Zlatan was fun.
“When he first arrived in the Carrington dressing room, there were a few players around and the first thing he said was, ‘God has arrived.’
“People were freaking out, but after 10 seconds he started laughing and it was just a joke. It may sound arrogant, but that’s the way he is.”
Mata talks former Man Utd star Pogba
Former United star Pogba is currently unable to play professional football after he was banned for four years for a doping offence.
The 31-year-old Frenchman was provisionally suspended in September 2023 after a failed drugs test, which found elevated levels of testosterone in his system.
Pogba, who has denied any wrongdoings, has seen his ban retrospectively applied to the date of his failed drugs test, meaning he can’t play football until 2027.
Mata candidly opened up about his relationship with the 2018 World Cup winner and admitted he is very “sad” for the “fantastic” Pogba.
“We had a lot of conversations about football,” he said.
“He was a fantastic guy: cheerful and supportive, with a very positive aura about him.
“Everything that’s happened to him lately makes me sad. He has absolutely everything as a footballer.”
