4th July, 2016
Everton are trying to convince Juan Mata to join Ronald Koeman’s revolution at Goodison Park, with the Spain international aware that he has no future at Manchester United under Jose Mourinho.
The 28- year-old is not in the plans of Mourinho who sold him to United in January 2014 during his second spell at Chelsea. The new United manager’s view of the attacking midfielder has not changed from two years ago when he regarded him as too slow to be at the heart of the attacking element of his team.
The Spain international was not included in his country’s Euro 2016 squad and last played for his country in the friendly against England last November. The offer is currently round £20 million but there is competition for his signature and the picture is not yet clear.
The arrival of Henrikh Mkhitaryan at Old Trafford from Borussia Dortmund this summer has demonstrated where Mourinho sees the future of the position that that Mata favours. Nevertheless, Mata was a regular with Louis van Gaal and scored in the FA Cup final against Crystal Palace in May.
Koeman was in charge of Valencia when Mata was in his first season there in 2007-2008. Mata was part of the Valencia side managed by Koeman that won the Copa del Rey in 2008 although Koeman was sacked in April after just six months in charge. Mata had four seasons at Valencia before joining Chelsea in 2011 where he was twice player of the year before Mourinho sold him.
Despite featuring in every single Premier League game last season – and finishing as the club’s third top-scorer in all competitions behind Wayne Rooney and Anthony Martial – Mata is unlikely to survive Mourinho’s overhaul of the United squad. Having settled well in England in his five years, a move to another Premier League club is likely to suit all parties.