---
title: "Exclusive: Pundit surprised by Juan Mata’s new Manchester United contract"
canonical: "https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/exclusive-pundit-surprised-by-juan-matas-new-manchester-united-contract-transfers-rumour-borussia-dortmund-jadon-sancho-raphael-varane-e171/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Caleb Sage"
section: "Exclusive"
published: "2021-07-16T05:15:01Z"
modified: "2021-07-16T05:15:01Z"
---

# Exclusive: Pundit surprised by Juan Mata’s new Manchester United contract

**Juan Mata’s decision to sign a new contract at Manchester United was surprising, says former Premier League midfielder Carlton Palmer.**

The club [confirmed at the start of the month](https://www.manutd.com/en/news/detail/juan-mata-agrees-new-one-year-contract-at-man-utd-until-june-2022) that the 33-year-old attacking midfielder has agreed a new one-year deal, keeping him at Old Trafford until June 2022.

Mata found himself on the fringes last season, starting just [six](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/juan-mata/leistungsdaten/spieler/44068/plus/0?saison=2020) Premier League games under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.

\[freshpress-poll id=”366102″\]

And with Jadon Sancho, another attacker, swapping Borussia Dortmund [for the Red Devils](https://www.manutd.com/en/news/detail/man-utd-statement-on-transfer-of-jadon-sancho-from-borussia-dortmund), it is hard to imagine Mata’s fortunes improving.

Speaking exclusively to **TT** about the Spaniard’s new contract, Palmer said:

*“It surprised me that one, Juan Mata signing a new contract. Coming to the latter years of his career, surely he’ll be wanting to play football?*

*“He played very, very little football last season and I never get that. If you know you’re not going to be playing regularly, why would you stay at a football club?”*

Mata is not the only United player who could be facing more competition this upcoming season.

The likes of Victor Lindelof and Eric Bailly could also be in for a real battle should the club land Real Madrid central defender Raphael Varane, who they are [currently chasing](https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11095/12354361/raphael-varane-man-utd-given-permission-to-discuss-personal-terms-ahead-of-potential-move-from-real-madrid), as Solskjaer looks to build a title-winning squad.