Juan Mata has already identified his long-term Man Utd replacement ahead of expected exit

Manchester United midfielder Juan Mata outlasted four permanent managers, but the former Chelsea ace will likely depart Old Trafford at the end of the season.

The Spaniard was signed by David Moyes in a £37.1m dea l in the 2014 January transfer window, only a few months before the current West Ham United boss became the first managerial casualty of the post Sir Alex Ferguson era. Over the last eight years, Mata has also seen Louis van Gaal, Jose Mourinho, and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer be shown the door at Old Trafford.

But with his current deal set to expire at the end of the current campaign, the World Cup winner is expected to be one of many United players to depart the club. However, his previous comments about midfield magician Bruno Fernandes suggests the 33-year-old is not worried about United’s future options in the attacking midfield area.

In April 2020, Mata was asked about Ander Herrera’s departure from the club in the summer of 2019. As well as regularly starring alongside the now Paris Saint-Germain midfielder, Mata was also good friends with his fellow compatriot off the pitch.

But while he admitted he missed Herrera being around the club, he highlighted his delight at Fernandes’ performances at Old Trafford. "I do miss him (Herrera) on the pitch but also in the dressing room and outside," Mata told Man United's official website in April 2020.

"We were living in the same area. "We were seeing each other after training for lunch, dinner, to watch football together, so of course I miss him.

"When you understand football in the same way, I think it's enjoyable to play with someone like him or with someone like Bruno now.

“You always miss them when you don't play with people like this." While Mata will likely