Manchester United midfielder Juan Mata has revealed he wants to finishing his career back in Spain but only after winning the Premier League title with the Red Devils.
Mata has spent the last six years in England after Chelsea signed the creative midfielder from Valencia in 2011 in a deal worth £23.5m.
The 28-year-old spent three successful years with Chelsea in which he was named the club’s Player of the Year in each of his first two seasons before being forced out by Jose Mourinho in January 2014.
United were the recipients of the move and another exit appeared on the cards at the start of the season when Mourinho became the new manager at Old Trafford but Mata has instead developed into a key player under the Portuguese.
However, despite establishing himself as one of the finest playmakers in the Premier League Mata has never won the league and has his eye on the title before plotting a return to his homeland.
“I would love to win it [the league title],” Mata told Sky Sports, via The Daily Mirror. “I have been lucky enough to win so many trophies already.
“For me it’s very important not to relax as a professional footballer and think I’ve won trophies with great teams and that is success. It is about always getting hungrier, trying to improve and trying to be better.”
“I don’t know what will happen,” Mata told Spanish outlet Cadena Ser in a separate interview. “I’ve been asked before [about returning to Spain]. I’ve been here six years, and I am happy in England. But I love Spain still and would like to play again back at home.”
Mata has played a direct hand in 32 league goals since joining United in January 2014, only Wayne Rooney has scored or assisted more goals in that time (38) for United.
For more stats on Juan Mata, click here to visit his WhoScored player page
