Mata to PSG as good as done?

Reports in France claim that Juan Mata’s big money move from Stamford Bridge to Paris-Saint Germain is as good as done.

Le10Sport reported that the out-of-favour Spaniard came close to leaving Chelsea in the summer and it failed to materialise, but PSG will reaffirm their interest in January.

Mata has been shown the cold shoulder by Jose Mourinho so far this season which has caused much bemusement amongst fans, pundits and journalists alike. Some agree with the manager’s decision whilst the more fickle among us have even taken to slagging the player off to justify his omission.

The 25-year-old has been one of Chelsea’s top performers in the past two seasons and was recognised for this by the fans as well as his peers, yet he’s been starved of opportunities this season despite what appears to be an over-reliance on Eden Hazard in attack. At times this season we’ve lacked quality of possession and a magical spark in the final third but Mata has not been given a run of games.

Mourinho recently admitted that Mata works hard in training and has the quality to be deserving of a starting role, so it’s not through a lack of effort, and he said that he cannot find a place for him in the side which strikes me as odd as he’s set the side up to absolve Frank Lampard, a 35-year-old, of any defensive responsibility in the last two matches.

The retort you often hear when questioning Mata’s omission is that the ‘manager knows best’ and that ‘he doesn’t do his bit defensively’. Yes, Mourinho is a professional and we should back our manager but that doesn’t mean he can’t be wrong and everyone claimed they knew better than the manager last year. In relation to his defensive game, it’s not really something the great playmakers have been renowned for and I heard no complaints about it in the past two years, so as a point it’s complete hokum.

PSG are just one of the admirers that are interesting in taking the playmaker off Jose’s hands, along with Juventus, Manchester United and Atletico Madrid.

Source: Sports Direct News