Manchester United midfielder Juan Mata has revealed that he was told about the club’s rebuilding plan when he moved to Old Trafford in January 2014.

The Spaniard joined the Red Devils from Premier League rivals Chelsea for a then-club-record transfer fee of £37.1million and he has gone on to score 16 goals in 50 competitive games during his 18 months in the north-west.

The 27-year-old was brought to the club by former manager David Moyes and he has since seen the Scotsman replaced by Louis van Gaal and no fewer than ten new faces arrive at Old Trafford.

The Spanish international claims that he was told about the rebuilding plan in place when he arrived and revealed that he was signed to play a big part in bringing success back to the club.

He said: “They told me you are very important, you are one of the first.”

United have not won a major trophy since Sir Alex Ferguson departed in the summer of 2013 and they have once again been busy in the transfer market during the close season, following the arrivals of Memphis Depay, Matteo Darmian, Morgan Schneiderlin and Bastian Schweinsteiger.

Mata believes the new signings show that the Red Devils mean business this season, but he admitted that the club will be ultimately judged on how many trophies they win.

He continued: “I knew the club was going to have these kind of signings. It’s not just about bringing good players in. It’s about playing well and winning trophies.”

Van Gaal’s men begin their Premier League campaign with a home match against Tottenham on August 8 and they have been installed as the 1.70 favourites to begin the season with a win, while Spurs are on offer at 5.00 and the draw is available at 3.80.