Juan Mata has detailed the training ground conversations he's had with Manchester United superstar Cristiano Ronaldo this season. Mata was expected to be leaving Old Trafford when his contract expires at the end of next month, though he recently revealed he will discuss his future with incoming boss Erik ten Hag.
Mata has been fortunate enough to call Ronaldo his teammate this season following the Portuguese ace's return to Old Trafford. While there has been precious little to savour for United fans this season, Ronaldo has shown there is plenty left in the tank with 24 goals in all competitions.
That's despite Ronaldo turning 38 this year. A relative junior at 34 years old, Mata has now revealed what working alongside Ronaldo has taught him. During an extensive interview with The Athletic, Mata said: "Disregarding if he plays better or worse, if he scores or not, he always does the same thing before and after the game. So for him, the game is just the most important part of his day.
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"That's something I can look at. He's like, 'this is the right thing to do because that way you get into the game with more confidence in yourself. I've done everything I could to play good. I'm going to play good'. He's a great example with how he prepares for games."
Following Ronaldo's return, there were light-hearted suggestions from inside the United camp that players had stopped eating dessert with their meals at Carrington - all due to Ronaldo - but Mata has laughed off those claims.
He added: "There was banter between tables, but nothing serious. Cristiano does a very logical thing over a holiday, he invests his energy, his effort and his time in his well-being. I mean, it makes total sense to try and be the best you can be in your body and mind, not only to play football, but to live a healthier and better life. That's what he does."
Mata continued: "I think maybe this debate [whether he fits United's style] exists because of who he is. He's top scorer in the history of professional football so people are going to speak about him, whether good or bad. What is true is his standards and his will to win, to show himself in the most important moments of the season. He has the capacity to do that.
"So it has been a great experience to get to know him better, to train with him and to see also how he understands football. I have had many conversations with him about football. He's a bit older than me - so maybe he doesn't look at it like this - but I think we are from the generation who saw football in a different way to the new generation."
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