According to Daily Star, Juan Mata is increasingly keen on leaving Manchester United amid interest from Barcelona. The Catalan giants have been monitoring the playmaker for a long time and although a January move is unlikely, they are expected to make an attempt to sign the ageing Spaniard at the end of the season when he will become a free agent.
Juan Mata’s Recent Struggles At Manchester United
Juan Mata has been a part of the Manchester United side since 2014. He has featured in almost 300 competitive matches for the club, notably winning the FA Cup and the Europa League in 2017.
However, in recent seasons, Mata has lost his importance in the Manchester United first-team, with the playmaker yet to feature in over 1,500 minutes of league football in any of his past three completed seasons at Old Trafford.
The 33-year-old is yet to even make a single Premier League appearance in the new season, as he has fallen behind the likes of Bruno Fernandes, Jadon Sancho, Marcus Rashford and even Donny van de Beek in the pecking order.
Mata’s struggles at Manchester United has led to speculations over his long term future at the club. His current contract at Old Trafford does expire at the end of the season, potentially allowing Barcelona to snap him up on a free transfer.
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Should Manchester United Let Him Leave?
Considering Juan Mata’s rapid decline in recent years, it is apparent that the former Chelsea superstar has no future at Old Trafford, especially with his contract expiring at the end of the season.
The player had struggled to win over former coach Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and his fortunes are unlikely to change under Ralf Rangnick either, as the German usually favours younger players who can offer more dynamism and work rate in the first line of press.
Hence, a move away from Old Trafford could make a whole lot of sense for all parties involved. In fact, the Red Devils should even consider terminating the Spaniard’s contract in January, as it will relieve them of his hefty £130k a week wages.
It might serve as a financial boost for the club, allowing Rangnick to filter out his team and bring in new players that suit his system far better than the likes of Juan Mata, Scott McTominay and Nemanja Matic.
