Is Jose Mourinho plotting another coup against Juan Mata at Man United with squad number change?

Mourinho v Mata Part 2?

Is Jose Mourinho plotting another coup against Juan Mata?

A little background first.

When Jose Mourinho returned to Chelsea in the summer of 2013, he made an immediate and dramatic change to the team, unceremoniously dropping fan favourite Juan Mata to the bench.

Initially it was hard to discern what was going on, but gradually, as Mata remained on the bench as the season wore on, it became apparent: Mourinho was fazing Mata out of the picture.

Mata had been one of Chelsea’s best players over the previous two seasons, being voted fans’ and players’ player of the year, and he was eventually forced out of the club, moving to Manchester United that January 2014.

Zlatan taking Mata’s number?

With Mourinho taking over at Old Trafford this summer, United fans have been worried that Mourinho may once again sacrifice Mata in favour of a stronger, more industrious midfielder (like Mkhitaryan).

And we may have seen the first sign of this at Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s unveiling yesterday.

Is Mourinho plotting to sell Mata once again? Or just taking his number off him as a sign that he’s boss?