Mateo Mejia’s whole spell at Manchester United has been one of injury-hit disappointment since signing for the club in 2019 from Real Zaragoza.
Now as his third season comes to a close, Mejia has enjoyed the best moment at Manchester United so far.
Mejia scores four goals
Mejia scored four goals in an end of season friendly as United beat QPR 6-3. Noam Emeran and D’Mani Mellor were also on the scoresheet.
The young striker was pictured with the matchball after the game, with Emeran encouraging him to ‘keep it going’.
Mejia was pictured training with Manchester United’s first team in March, for the first time.
This was a rare bright spot in a difficult stint in Manchester for the young striker.
Mejia was stretchered off on his under-18s debut in 2019. The next season broke for lockdown early in 2020.
He started the 2020 season and then got injured in October, after scoring the week before, and ended up having an operation in February 2021.
Mejia made his first appearance in 10 months when he featured as a substitute for the under-23s against Chelsea last November, but then another long lay-off followed.
He did not play another under-23 game this season until April, when he made a couple of late substitute appearances in league games against Arsenal and Liverpool. He totalled just 29 league minutes for the season.
Seemingly fit again, Mejia started the friendly match against QPR and took full advantage, proving he still has an eye for goal, scoring four times.
This may give United some food for thought over Mejia’s future. His contract is due to expire this summer, and United have to make a decision over the 19-year-old.
It may be in Mejia’s interests to go elsewhere and rebuild, but if United are still intrigued to see what he can do, it’s possible that a one-year extension could be given, to see what the young striker is capable of in an injury-free year.