Mata excited by return to Europe

“That is what we all want”, Mata said.

“Essentially there is [a physical list of names] because we track everything”.

Van Gaal is thought to still be on the lookout for new signings, with Nicolas Otamendi among the players said to be close to a transfer to Old Trafford.

Whether Real are still interested in De Gea remains to be seen, however, as the Spanish giants re-signed Espanyol keeper Kiko Casilla on Friday.

But Mata believes that bringing top players to Old Trafford is only one aspect of achieving success next season.

“When you play for a top team you always know you have to be at your best level”, he added.

Juan Mata has revealed that he knew Manchester United would undergo a rebuilding project worth hundreds of millions of pounds when he joined the club, as per Goal. “I knew the club was going to have these kind of signings”.

Mata and Jones both congratulated the club’s new arrivals on their debuts while Pereira expressed his pleasure with his own performance as a second-half substitute.

The total amount spent on the 10 players is £228.1m, a figure which does not include the £6m loan fee for striker Radamel Falcao, who has since joined Chelsea.

The fact that United have signed two holding midfielders also reduces the likelihood of Jones being asked to play out of position.

Next up for United is a match against San Jose Earthquakes before they take on Paris Saint-Germain and finally Barcelona.

Competition for places will be fierce this season – especially in midfield – but Mata is confident he can continue as one of Van Gaal’s regular starters having earned a role as the right-sided attacking midfielder last term.

‘This is what we come on tour for – to train in this humidify and climate and hopefully that will help us at the start of the season.’.