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Last month, Manchester United's Juan Mata was linked with a shock move towards Spain. It is not the first time the Spanish international has been linked to the Catalan club. According to Bleacher Report, Barcelona have made Mata their top priority after missing out on Antoine Greizmann.
With his long balls that unlock defences and his off-fielding charity work with Common Goal, we all love Juan Mata. But, he has failed to gain Mourinho's trust for the second time in England.
For the sake of getting minutes, former Chelsea Player of the Year award winner might look to switch clubs. Lack of playing time has affected his confidence and he is no longer so dangerous as he seemed to be a couple of years ago.
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With both the clubs involved going to have a busy summer ahead; United aiming to get level with Pep's unstoppable City and Valverde trying to square up for Barca's Champions League woes, this deal should happen.
He also expressed his love towards Spain and has said that he would like to return one day. Well, this is a perfect opportunity.
Here are four more reasons to support my opinion.
#4 A cheaper alternative to Thiago
For a couple of seasons now, the Catalan club have been eyeing their academy product hoping he'd make a return. All they've got is failure whilst Bayern Munich are too keen on holding on to their players.
Mata is a much more pragmatic and cheaper option when compared to his Spanish compatriot. If provided the chance, Mata oozes class. The Manchester United man is surely older but Valverde can get a cut-price deal for the 30-year-old.
He is more experienced and can play wide on the right flank. Thiago is a sensational holding midfielder but Mata's movement is what makes him so special. Unlike Thiago, he is more versatile and can deputize any of the midfield or wide roles. With Rakitic, he adds more balance and unpredictability in the squad.
#3 Mata will provide a variety of options to Valverde
Valderde clearly doesn't categorize underperforming Andre Gomes as a long-term stalwart which will make easier for Mata to get minutes at Camp Nou. Mata still has a lot of football left in him. He's tireless ball-winner which is one of the reasons he has survived at Old Trafford which will help Valverde recreate his dynamic pressing system.
Mata boats enough quality to help Barcelona regain their European supremacy. He can play in both 4-4-2 and 4-3-3. He can form a midfield of Phillipe Coutinho, Sergio Busquets, Ivan Rakitic and him just behind Luis Suarez and Lionel Messi in a 4-4-2 taking the burden of creating from Messi's shoulders.
In a 4-3-3, He can sit right behind Suarez and interchange roles with Messi providing stability to the midfield. The Catalan club would've unreal and electrifying depth with Mata.
Valverde could help Mata unleash himself playing in a free-flowing side like Barca. With club legend, Andreas Iniesta leaving Camp Nou leaving a void which cannot be replaced, Mata can replace him with ease. He is quick, agile, forward thinking and has exceptional passing abilities.
#2 Makes sense for United as they are looking to sign a right winger
Last season, Mata made 28 appearances for United in the Premier League, but he's been substituted on five times and substituted off 17 times, making only six 90 minutes appearances for the Red Devils. Jose Mourinho has used him as an inverted winger on the right wing who'll drift inside using his stronger foot which is not a role best suited for him.
Mata played as a no.10 for both Valencia and Chelsea having created and scored more goals in the position behind the striker. United have too many players occupying that role.
Mata, who has a year left to run out of his contract at Old Trafford, having not signed a new one is no longer a part of Mourinho's plan. United could splash the amount received for Mata for a new addition on the right-flank as they've been struggling in that department for a very long time.
#1 Justice for Mata
With Mourinho unable to offer Mata regular starting football, an offer to join Barca would perhaps be very attractive. I can see 'but he has made 40 appearances' taglines coming but the issue is just not lack of game time.
It is no rocket science that Mourinho is a lover of results. By any means, he will look to win rather play heavy-metal football. This hinders forwards of his team and often they are not allowed to do what they do best. Speaking of Mata alone, he is not allowed to create openings and provide long balls which pierce defences.
Mata, 30, is in his prime and hardly has a couple of years until running out of fuel. He'd be a perennial winner at Barcelona. United cannot offer him the same as they are themselves going through a reincarnation phase.
As a United fan, I'd hate Mata to leave Old Trafford. But, a Barcelona move makes more sense. I never imagined I would say this but it is true that with younger options like Jesse Lingard and Paul Pogba in the squad, Mata would never play in the no.10 role in the famous red shirt.
Long story short, if Barcelona gets Mata's services for a fee around £20m-£30m, it would be a real steal for the Liga champions. This marriage is appropriate for all the parties involved: United will sell a player who's not in their plans, Mata will get what he deserves and Barcelona will get a top-class player in his prime to have more depth.
