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Manchester Evening News
Manchester Evening News
Sport
Richard Fay

Juan Mata drops future hint ahead of Manchester United release

Juan Mata insists he remains '100 per cent' committed to playing football as he nears the end of his time at Manchester United. The Spanish midfielder is out of contract at the end of the season and the club has shown no sign of offering him a new deal.

Mata, who turns 34 later this month, has only featured five times for United this season and has remained a peripheral figure under interim manager Ralf Rangnick.

The uncertainty regarding United's next permanent manager makes a contract extension very unlikely for the former Chelsea playmaker, who joined the club eight years ago. Mata has won an FA Cup, League Cup and Europa League during his time at Old Trafford, but no league title.

READ MORE: Paris Saint-Germain make offer to Paul Pogba ahead of Manchester United exit

“Of course I will be involved with Common Goal because that’s something that goes beyond football,” Mata told club media when quizzed on his future, referencing his charity.

“It’s something that will last for much longer and it will stay there after I stop and many members stop, but my mind is 100 per cent committed to playing.”

Mata's last appearance came as a late substitute in the Champions League home defeat to Atletico Madrid and he admits he is disappointed not to have featured more often this season.

He added: “I haven’t been playing as much as I would like this season and I really miss it. I’m enjoying training with my team-mates and I really want to show that I can enjoy playing and giving what I can give to the team.

“I miss it and I still have a lot of passion and a lot of will to keep enjoying football. This is a dream come true to be a professional football player so I want to play as much as I can and I feel good, to be honest: mentally, physically, I am of course ready to perform, so hopefully soon.”

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