Juan Mata has despatched an emotional message to Manchester United followers as he leaves the membership after eight years.
The Spaniard joined the Reds in January 2014 from Premier League rivals, Chelsea, and has been a key member of the group since then.
The 34-year-old performed his final match for United of their final fixture of the 2021/22 season, away to Crystal Palace on 22 Might.
“It has taken me a while to course of the change that’s occurring in my life,” wrote Mata. “It is a message that, for a lot of moments during the last years, I by no means thought I might be writing however, in fact, all good issues come to an finish and my time as a Manchester United participant has simply completed.
“It could be inconceivable for me to specific on this textual content all the sentiments that I’ve been experiencing during the last weeks however, to sum it up, I wish to say I’m the proudest man on this planet having represented this distinctive membership for the final eight-and-a-half seasons.
“It’s one thing I might by no means have dreamt of, after I was little, because it felt too distant for a child in Spain to, at some point, play for probably the greatest golf equipment within the historical past of soccer however, typically, actuality exceeds desires.
Class, @JuanMata8 — as all the time ❤️#MUFC https://t.co/eg5Qjvlub5 pic.twitter.com/xEDBtiWfMW
— Manchester United (@ManUtd) June 10, 2022
“As I’m writing these traces as we speak, I could not be extra grateful with what my profession has dropped at me, thus far, and I’m as excited as that little child about what the long run may deliver any further, the identical ardour for taking part in soccer as that child stays within me.
“It goes with out saying, I need to thank each employees member who works within the membership that makes it so particular, each supervisor, each team-mate I’ve crossed paths with in my time at Manchester United. We have not skilled the perfect interval within the historical past of the membership however I did have some superb recollections alongside the best way, within the type of trophies and particular moments collectively that may keep perpetually in my thoughts.
“Thanks all. I’ll miss you.
Mata leaves the membership after eight years, having performed 285 video games, scoring 51 objectives.
As well as, the Spanish midfielder received the FA Cup, League Cup, and Europa League titles.
He follows Paul Pogba and Jesse Lingard by way of the exit door at Man United on the finish of their contracts.
