Juan Mata sends emotional message to Manchester United fans after exit confirmed

Juan Mata has shared an emotional farewell message on social media after his exit from Manchester United was confirmed last week.

Ahead of his contract at Old Trafford expiring at the end of this month, United have announced that the Spaniard will be leaving on a free transfer on June 30. It will mark the end of the midfielder's eight-and-a-half-year spell with the club.

United have plans to make significant changes to the landscape of the first-team squad this summer and several big-name players will join Mata in leaving the club later this month, including Paul Pogba, Jesse Lingard and Edinson Cavani. Their departures will reduce the size of the club's wage bill and pave the way for new additions to be made to manager Erik ten Hag's squad.

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Although mass changes need to be made this summer, Mata's exit from Old Trafford was always going to be emotional. He joined the club back in 2014 and turned out to be a firm fans' favourite, giving 100 per cent every time he sported the famous red shirt.

He made 285 appearances for the club, scoring 51 goals and grabbing 47 assists. He also won four trophies during his United career, including the FA Cup and the Europa League.

Following confirmation of his departure, the Spaniard has now issued a heart-warming message via a video on his Twitter page.

"It has taken me some time to process the change that is happening in my life and this is a message that for many moments over the last years I never thought I would be writing," Mata said. "But, of course, all good things come to an end and my time as a Manchester United player has just finished.

"It would be impossible for me to