Juan Mata is hopeful that he would still be able to call Paul Pogba and David de Gea his teammates in the Manchester United camp during the forthcoming season.
In a recent media interaction, Juan Mata said that Paul Pogba is a big plus for the team and he should stay in Manchester United as he spreads positivity to his fellow teammates.
It is worth noting here that Pogba had expressed his desire to find a more challenging role “somewhere else” and has been linked to several transfer rumours ever since.
Pogba hasn’t lived up to the hype and expectations since he donned the Manchester United colours in August 2016 with a then world-record deal of £89 million.
However, he was nonetheless included in the Manchester United squad as part of their pre-season tour to Australia and Asia. Despite Pogba’s dismal performance, manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was hopeful of seeing his best for the team and retained him in the squad.
Having the same sentiments is Mata, who has also opined that Pogba’s presence can help unify the team
“We all know Paul and he is a fantastic midfielder and a very good guy, very positive, and a good influence for everyone,” said Mata.
“I think he is happy and brings everyone together, but I cannot speak for other people – I speak for myself.
“As a team-mate and a friend I would like him to stay and be happy because he is a very good player for us,” said Mata.
On the other hand, David de Gea is set to remain at Old Trafford after his record-breaking deal with the club making him the world’s highest-paid goalkeeper. “David is the best goalkeeper in the world and one of my best friends so I want him to stay,” said Mata.
“On a professional level, it would be great if he stays because he will give us many points over the next season, so I’m very happy if he stays”, he added.