Juan Mata is set to join Juventus in the January transfer window…
Juventus are reportedly confident of securing the £20m signing of Manchester United midfielder Juan Mata during the summer transfer window, with the Spaniard free to leave Old Trafford.
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Reports in the Daily Express confirm that Mata is closing in on his United exit after a frustrating year at the club, in which he has become a bit-part player under new manager Louis van Gaal, having failing to save previous boss David Moyes.
Van Gaal, who has employed a various number of tactics since taking the reigns after the World Cup, seemingly feels his strongest line-up includes Wayne Rooney playing in Mata’s preferred No.10 role behind strikers Robin Van Persie and Radamel Falcao.
The Dutchman spent £150m on new recruits during the summer transfer window, including record signing Angel di Maria, whose near £60m transfer fee comfortably eclipsed the previous club record of £37.1m held by Mata, who joined from Chelsea in January.
Spending is unlikely to slow however, as Van Gaal remodels his playing squad from top to bottom. And with United maintaining their interest in Juventus midfielder Arturo Vidal, they could see Mata’s sale to the Italian giants as a useful bargaining chip.
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