MANCHESTER UNITED star Bruno Fernandes has been seen meeting with former team-mate Juan Mata for lunch.

The pair were seen outside Italian restaurant Cibo in Hale Village.

Mata, 34, sported a striking new look with his hair now shaved off.

The Spaniard was released by United at the end of last season after eight years at the club.

He was one of 11 players released following the club’s worst ever Premier League campaign.

The former Chelsea ace is currently without a club, but has reportedly been offered contracts by Leeds and Saudi Arabian side Al-Halil.

The restaurant has also been used by United CEO Richard Arnold, who was spotted having lunch at the restaurant with former CEO David Gill in June.

Fernandes is in line to start for United when the Erik ten Hag era kicks off against Brighton on Sunday.

The 27-year-old’s creative outlet will be key for United once again this season, despite a relatively poor season last time out.

He managed just 16 league goal contributions last year, far lower than the 29 he managed the year before and marginally better than the 15 he got during his first half-season at the club in the 2019/20 season.

United were battered 4-0 on the final day last season against the Seagulls, so the game on Sunday will be a perfect opportunity to see how far they have come in pre-season with Ten Hag.

Despite a well-documented transfer saga, Cristiano Ronaldo is in line to start the game following an injury to Frenchman Anthony Martial.

Ronaldo left Old Trafford before the club’s friendly against Rayo Vallecano had even finished following his substitution at half-time by Ten Hag, a move the manager described as “unacceptable”.

SOURCE: thesun.co.uk