"?Manchester United trio Juan Mata, Daley Blind and Marouane Fellaini could yet be set for an Old Trafford reprieve that will see them stay at the club this summer. That's despite long standing rumours that the three would be among the first to be shown the door by Jose Mourinho.
According to a refreshing report from the Daily Mail, Mourinho is actually prepared to keep Mata and Fellaini for the time being, and will offer Blind a chance to prove himself during pre-season.
At least as far as Mata and Blind were concerned, it had been suggested as early as May that their time at Old Trafford would be up. The rumours regarding Fellaini have never been quite so clear cut, but each will now have the opportunity to try and impress the new manager.
Mata, who remains an incredibly popular member of the squad, as well as with fans, is said to asked for assurances over his future at United once Mourinho was appointed. He will likely no longer be the first-team regular he was under Louis van Gaal, but a squad rotation role is on offer.
The report from the Mail also suggests that Mourinho, despite selling Mata at Chelsea, feels he can find a way to get the best out of him. That, combined with the fact moving him this time around might not be quite so straightforward.
For Blind, the situation appears clear, 'earn your place'. The Dutchman does not fit the physical profile that Mourinho usually looks for in players, while the new boss has already made a point of stating that he is only interested in 'specialists'.
However, at the same time, he acknowledged a need for at one of two more versatile options. At his opening press conference the Portuguese even highlighted a 'left-back or midfielder' to fill in at centre-back in an emergency, although he never mentioned Blind by name.
Fellaini most certainly does fit Mourinho's ideal physical profile. The Belgian is a real bruiser and is known to be fiercely loyal to the manager he plays under. While he is unlikely to be a starter, he still offers a unique threat from the bench and could prove to be a very valuable weapon despite continuing to be unpopular with the majority of fans. Unfairly so.
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