Spaniard set for showdown talks over Chelsea future

Juan Mata will hold showdown talks with Chelsea over his future at Stamford Bridge, according to the Mirror, and is also being linked with a move to Atletico Madrid.

The tabloid claims that Mata’s agent and father is due in London to discuss his son’s future with the club and Atletico have been mooted as ideal suitors for a loan move with the possibility of a permanent deal in the summer.

Mata is reportedly concerned that his World Cup place with the Spain squad is under threat because he isn’t playing as regularly as he has in previous campaigns and has told friends that he is ‘angry’ over his current treatment – it is all doom and gloom say the Mirror.

The Spanish international was visibly frustrated when he was substituted during Chelsea’s 3-0 win over Southampton on New Year’s Day but I don’t think it is that big a deal. Mata just wants to play, fight and win. Although he may not turn down a move should the opportunity arise, I don’t think he will be forcing one.

At the moment Eden Hazard is the guaranteed pick to play in one of the three spots behind the forward and the emergence of Willian has made things a lot tougher for Mata to get in there, whilst Oscar suits the pressing game Mourinho is trying to implement a little more. He has started a fair few games of late, however, so hopefully the exit talk has more to do with it being a January and the press up to their usual antics rather than there being much truth in it.

Things aren’t great for the 25-year-old at the moment and of course he has the World Cup to think about but you can see that he is working much harder to press his opponents as Mourinho has asked of him and he is probably the only player in the squad aside from Hazard that can think several moves ahead, rather than just the one or two. There’s still a place for Mata at Chelsea and he would be a huge loss to the club if it was decided that he will move on.