Juan Mata sends Manchester United warning ahead of Galatasaray clash

Juan Mata has warned Manchester United of the threat Galatasaray will pose when his two former sides meet at Old Trafford on Tuesday night.

The Spaniard is a fan favourite from his eight-year spell in Manchester and also spent a year with the Turkish side before he left them for Vissel Kobe in the summer.

Mata has been keeping tabs on both of his former sides so far this season and will have a close eye on events for the crucial Champions League meeting.

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The 35-year-old is confident United can put their bad start to the campaign behind them in the coming weeks, but he has warned them about the tough test of facing a talented Turkish side.

“When I saw the draw and this game, I was like ‘Oh, I wish I was there to experience coming back to Old Trafford with Galatasaray,’” he told United Review.

“But I was so happy because I told my friends in Turkey that they will experience something unique, which is playing in a legendary place like Old Trafford.

“I’m really looking forward to hearing what they say after the game about how they felt playing there, about the energy of the place. And to my United friends I will tell them that Galatasaray are going to put up a fight.

“They’re a good team and a great squad, and if you go through the squad player by player, there are a lot of important players coming there from important leagues this season.”

Since moving to Japan, Mata has struggled to keep up with European football as closely as he did before, but he still has a huge love for United and remains in regular contact with captain Bruno Fernandes.

He added: "Watching United is not easy with the time