Juan Mata believes Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has found Manchester United's Ander Herrera replacement in Bruno Fernandes.
Fan-favourite Herrera left the Red Devils when his contract expired in 2019, joining Ligue 1 giants Paris Saint-German on a free.
Mata was good friends with his compatriot, and admits he does miss Herrera's presence at Old Trafford. But in terms of what the Spaniard provided on the pitch, new signing Fernandes has filled the Herrera-shaped hole at United, according to the Red Devils' number eight.
"I do miss him on the pitch but also in the dressing room and outside," Mata told Man United's official website. "We were living in the same area.
"We were seeing each other after training for lunch, dinner, to watch football together, so of course I miss him. He's a very good friend; I'm still in touch with him very often. He's very happy in Paris.
"When you understand football in the same way, I think it's enjoyable to play with someone like him or with someone like Bruno now. You always miss them when you don't play with people like this."
Fernandes' impact at Man United has been widely praised, with Roy Keane among the former Red Devils stars hailing the Portuguese.
Keane told Sky Sports: "We often talk about players taking time to settle at a club - it's not taken him long has it? He seems a very good personality. It's obviously a huge move for him, but he seems to be enjoying it. He's got a little bit of arrogance about him."
