Manchester United triggered Juan Mata one-year contract extension, Jose Mourinho confirms

The Spaniard was one of several United players to enter the final year of their contract at the start of the season

Juan Mata is set to stay at Manchester United until at least 2019 (Getty)

Jose Mourinho has confirmed that Manchester United have chosen to trigger an extension clause in Juan Mata’s contract, keeping the Spaniard at the club until at least 2019.

Mata was one of several United players who entered the final year of their contract at the start of the season, albeit with an option to extend their stay for another year.

United triggered year-long extensions for Luke Shaw, Ander Herrera, Daley Blind and Ashley Young earlier this month, though reports claimed a decision over Mata’s contract had been delayed.

On Monday, however, Mourinho dismissed any suggestion that the 29-year-old could leave Old Trafford as a free agent and revealed that the option in the midfielder’s contract had been triggered.

“It was [triggered],” the United manager said, claiming the decision had been made “last week or something like that”.

Mata’s chances of staying at United beyond the terms of his current contract looked slim upon Mourinho’s appointment in the summer of 2016.

Much was made of how Mourinho had sold the Spaniard to United during his time in charge of Chelsea, having failed find a regular place for him in his starting line-up.

Mata has, however, featured consistently for United during Mourinho’s 18 months in charge, making 68 appearances across all competitions.

“Mata is important. Mata is very important,” Mourinho added, ahead of his side’s trip to play Tottenham Hotspur at Wembley on Wednesday night.

“He is another one, big story when I arrived one and a half years ago: ‘Mata in trouble, in trouble, in trouble’. Now he’s getting an extension of one more year.

“An important player for me, an important player for the club, an important player for the other players.”