Jose Mourinho has moved to reassure Juan Mata that his Manchester United career is not at an end.
Mata, 28, was sold by Mourinho in his second spell as Chelsea manager, in January 2014, and the same was widely expected to happen at United this summer, with the Portuguese believed to hold reservations over Mata's willingness to help out in defense.
But Mourinho used a press conference on United's pre-season tour of China to tell Mata there is room for him in United's squad for the coming season.
"I think since the first day, everything is clear between us," Mourinho said. "There is space for him.
"He is a talented player but I don't promise places to anyone. I promise respect and I like him.
"So if he wants to stay and I think he wants—until this moment I don't have one little sign that he wanted to leave so I think he wants to stay—then yes, there is space for him and yes, I think he can be useful to the club."
United plays Borussia Dortmund at Shanghai Stadium on Friday in the first game of its pre-season tour. Mourinho's first competitive fixture will be against Leicester City in the FA Community Shield at Wembley Stadium on August 8.
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