Juan Mata has scored his first goal since leaving Manchester United to sign for Galatasaray in the summer.
Mata was released as part of a fairly substantial exodus at the start of Erik ten Hag’s first transfer window in charge of United.
It took him a while to find a new club but in the closing embers of the summer, he joined Turkish giants Gala on a free transfer.
He played his third league game for the club last night, coming off the bench in their 2-0 win over Karagümrük.
Mata scores first Galatasaray goal
And he sealed the victory with his maiden goal for the club, and the result means they sit third, two points off the top of the table.
Mata took to Instagram to celebrate the goal and win, with a message which said: “This goal and victory is for you fans!
“We keep going all together!”
United goalkeeper David de Gea was very close to Mata during their time together at the club and was in the comments with a message of support.
He also posted a message of congratulations on his own story too, as Mata kickstarted his spell at his new club.
Mata was a likeable, dependable professional with great technical ability but he faded from the first team picture at United in recent years.
It seemed that United’s managers did not think he had the legs to play the style of football they wanted, and it was a surprise when he signed an extension in 2021.
It was the right decision to let him leave and it is great to see him getting gametime and scoring goals with his new club.
He will hope to kick on from here and get more goals and assists, showing the quality we all know the man Victor Lindelof called ‘amazing‘ has in his locker.
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