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Manchester United transfer news: Juan Mata and Daley Blind set to be first Jose Mourinho casualties - reports

Mourinho famously facilitated Mata’s move to Old Trafford during his second spell at Stamford Bridge

Samuel Stevens
Tuesday 31 May 2016 08:10 BST
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Juan Mata celebrates after putting Manchester United ahead against Norwich
Juan Mata celebrates after putting Manchester United ahead against Norwich (Getty)

Juan Mata and Daley Blind are likely to be the first casualties following José Mourinho’s appointment as Manchester United manager as the Portuguese evaluates his new squad.

The former Real Madrid and two-time Chelsea manager was yesterday given a guided tour of the Aon Training Centre at Carrington by Ed Woodward, the executive vice chairman, with Sir Bobby Charlton taking the time to welcome him to the club.

“Now ‘congratulations’ is over, now we need to win,” Mourinho told the United legend. According to Sky Sports News, neither Mata nor Blind expect to feature in the 53-year-old’s plans as the North West club look to recover from two tepid seasons under predecessor Louis van Gaal.

Mourinho tells Man Utd fans to forget the last 3 years

Mourinho famously facilitated Mata’s move to Old Trafford during his second spell at Stamford Bridge after reportedly suffering a difficult relationship with the Spain international.

David Moyes, who beat Mourinho to the United job three years ago, signed Mata, 28, for £33.5m despite him behind named as Chelsea’s player of the year the previous campaign.

26-year-old Blind, on the other hand, has impressed many regulars on Sir Matt Busby Way is but is unlikely to allign with Mourinho’s traditional expectation of his centre-backs.

“I always worked well with him and would have been keen that the co-operation lasted longer,” Blind told reporters at the Netherlands' training camp in Portugal when quizzed on Van Gaal’s sacking.

“Over the last six months he has not been treated fairly. I think a manager like Louis van Gaal, who has achieved so much already, deserved more respect. Even though there was so much being written about him losing his job over the last months, he always looked to protect and shelter us. It is not easy for a coach if you are repeatedly being fired in the newspapers.”

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