Juan Mata has admitted that family members were concerned for his future at Manchester United after Jose Mourinho became manager in 2016.
The Spaniard had worked alongside Mourinho for six months at Chelsea, during which he did not fit the Portuguese's tactical blueprint and hardly made an appearance for the Blues.
In January 2014, Mata completed a move to Old Trafford for £37.1m, only for Mourinho to arrive there as well two-and-a-half years later.
Writing in his new book, Juan Mata: Suddenly A Footballer, the Spaniard wrote: "With Louis van Gaal gone, rumours about José Mourinho being appointed acquired a life of their own. A few days later, the rumours had become fact. Mourinho was my manager again.
"Despite the concern of my family, friends and many people, I was determined to face the situation as I'd always tried to: positively.
"Josee and I were together at Chelsea before, of course, and after having being together for sixth months, my career would take a different direction: Manchester."
Despite plenty of speculation, Mata served as an important member of the United squad during Mourinho's time at the club, making 82 appearances during the 56-year-old's first two full seasons at the Theatre of Dreams.
Mourinho, now a pundit on Sky Sports, slammed his former club following their 2-0 defeat to West Ham United on Sunday, insisting that they were worse off than when he was their manager this time last year.
Leo Nieboer
