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Article continues belowArticle continues belowArticle continues below<ul><li>Portuguese returned to England in 2021</li><li>Had Red Devils dreaming of major honours</li><li>Second spell at Old Trafford ended on a low</li></ul><script type="application/json" data-placement="fcplayer-semantic">{"type":"fcplayer-semantic","data":{"embedCode":"//cdn.fcp.codes/embed-code-template/embed-code-template.js#SEMANTIC_5704afb8-c10b-4ba5-9cb4-d7fb6098ef90"}}</script>

Revealed: Man Utd star agreed contract to sit on the bench because of Cristiano Ronaldo – but Premier League title dream turned sour

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The World Cup-winning Spaniard had made just nine Premier League starts for the Red Devils under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer in the season leading up to Ronaldo completing a sensational return to Old Trafford. Despite being linked with a move elsewhere, Mata agreed to extend his deal in order to work with the Portuguese superstar.

WHAT HAPPENED?

Mata has told <a href="https://www.fourfourtwo.com/features/juan-mata-i-spent-a-season-on-the-manchester-united-bench-because-i-believed-in-cristiano-ronaldo " target="_blank">FourFourTwo</a> of not wanting to walk away from a potential challenge for domestic glory: “After so many years at the club, it would have hurt me to leave if United then won the Premier League. I didn't want to miss that moment. I dreamed of celebrating a league title at Old Trafford.”

WHAT MATA SAID

Mata added on why <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-gb/news/ronaldo-reflects-on-dream-man-utd-return-after-two-goal-debut-against-newcastle/calgsiz6btpf1s97z4yyucbth" target="_blank">Ronaldo’s arrival in 2021</a> got him so excited, with the five-time Ballon d’Or winner accustomed to competing for major honours: “I thought we could win the Premier League again. He had such high standards that he could drag the rest with him. I always thought that when it came to the 80th minute of a game, the ball had to go to him to win. He always appeared in decisive moments. However, circumstances around him prevented him from getting more quality minutes in his second season. I connected with Cristiano, during many conversations. He’s a much closer person than people imagine.”

THE BIGGER PICTURE

Ronaldo <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-gb/news/ronaldo-returns-man-utd-talks-question-future/blt5f9f12438148215a" target="_blank">went empty-handed</a> throughout his second stint at United, with his <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-gb/news/ronaldo-on-purpose-man-utd-exit-strategy-stam-handled-better/blt9b32129c6b01c4a3" target="_blank">contract ripped up as he was released as a free agent in November 2022</a>. Mata had already departed for Galatasaray by then, with the Red Devils still struggling to find the consistency that will put them in a position to claim a first Premier League title since Sir Alex Ferguson retired in 2013.

WHAT NEXT?

Revealed: Man Utd star agreed contract to sit on the bench because of Cristiano Ronaldo – but Premier League title dream turned sour | Goal.com US

Juan Mata has explained how Cristiano Ronaldo convinced him to sign a contract at Manchester United even though he knew that bench duty beckoned.

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