The Fans Football Blog3

Catalan sports paper Sport claims that Valencia left wing attacker and Spanish international Juan Mata (21) is considering to buy his freedom.

The player's agent and father Juan Manuel Mata would meet on Friday with Valencia officials to discuss the Mata's contract renewal (read more here). If Valencia's offer isn't enough compared with several other proposals the player has received from other clubs, Mata would want to leave the club.

Valencia would have made Mata senior a few weeks ago the promise that, although the player's buyout clause is 60 million euro, he could leave for a transfer fee of between 18 and 20 million euro°.

Also because of the extremely difficult relations between Valencia and Barcelona after the events surrounding Valencia striker David Villa earlier this summer, the player's father would now think about paying that sum himself or through Brazilian player's agency Traffic, of which he is the representative in Spain. Barcelona would then later sign the player without having to negotiate directly with Valencia.

Read more:
Barcelona moving again for Mata
Mata agent honoured by Barcelona link

Asked about the new rumours linking Valencia left wing attacker and Spanish international Juan Mata (21) with a move to Barcelona (read more here), the player's father and agent Juan Manuel Mata has said in an interview with Catalan radio station COM Ràdio that it's an honour to be linked with Barcelona:

"That a coach like Guardiola, who has won everything, likes the way of playing of Mata and thinks that he has the right profile for Barcelona, is of course an honour.

In any case, it was Valencia that gave him the chance to have already played 80 games in the Liga, to have scored a bunch of goals, to become international, European champion under-19 and best player of that tournament.

No one of Barcelona has talked with me so far but I think that's normal because the clubs should first reach an agreement. The president of Valencia already told me more than one month ago that Barcelona and Madrid have asked for Mata and that he had rejected.

The president is always very clear in his public statements and he was also clear to me: Mata is a very important player for the current project of Valencia. But I guess a situation can always change overnight. I want to stress that football wise, Mata cannot complain at Valencia although you cannot deny that Barcelona has been winning a lot of trophies.

But we sure want to renew his contract because it's still the same as when he arrived from Real Madrid B and they have been promising the whole year that he deserves a better contract, so we're waiting for that. We had a first contact and the proposal wasn't exactly very good. We'll have a new meeting at the end of this week."

Read more:
Barcelona moving again for Mata
Looking forward to the last transfer window month

Asked about the rumours linking Valencia left wing attacker and Spanish international Juan Mata (21) with a move to Barcelona (read more here), the player's father and agent Juan Manuel Mata has confirmed the interest in an interview with Catalan sports paper El Mundo Deportivo:

"I know about the interest of Barça because Valencia president Llorente told me about it. He said that both Barça and Madrid want him but that he's not going to sell. But in football, things can change in a week or in one day. As far as I know there could have been a joint bid for Villa and Mata and individual bids for each of them. That's what it seems like to me.

I've also been a football player and I can assure you that every player would like to play in a top team where they can win everything. And everybody also wants to get a better financial deal. I don't want to talk about the last renewal offer we received from Valencia, otherwise I could say stupid things."

* Juan Manuel Mata repeated in an interview with Spanish radio station Cadena Ser that Barcelona has made two concrete offers: "I know of the interest of Barça because Valencia confirmed this to me. But the club says they won't sell to anybody. They're not willing to listen to offers for their players, and certainly not for Mata. Now there seem to be a new offer. The first one was an offer for him and Villa and now there's one only for him."

Asked about the first renewal offer he yesterday received from Valencia, Juan Manuel Mata said in an interview with Valencia regional newspaper Las Provincias that this offer is clearly not enough: "It's not at all what we thought it would be, although I want to stress that the boy is feeling very comfortable and happy in Valencia. I'll meet with Valencia next weeek to discuss things." *

Read more:
Valencia rejects offers for Mata
Next season's team (3)
Van Persie, Malouda and Mata next on the list

Catalan sports paper El Mundo Deportivo claims that Valencia left wing attacker and Spanish international Juan Manuel Mata (21) is number one target of Barcelona to strengthen the left wing.

With Ribéry having ruled himself out, Malouda having renewed with Chelsea, Silva being not for sale and some people within the clubs having doubts on Robinho, Mata would now be the first option.

The Spanish player, whose contract with Valencia expires in 2013 and who has a buyout clause of 60 million euro°, is represented by his father Juan Manuel Mata, an official FIFA agents who is also the representative in Spain of Brazilian sports marketing agency Traffic, with whom Barcelona has good relationships after the transfer negotiations on Henrique and Keirrison.

Barcelona reportedly wants to move carefully for Mata because of the delicate relationship with Valencia after Barcelona officials met with Valencia forward David Villa earlier this week. The club would first wants to finalize the deal on Villa, and then try for Mata. *Catalan sports paper Sport confirms that Mata is an option for the left wing and that Barcelona could move for him, but claims that it's very unlikely that Valencia want to sell the Spaniard.*

Read more:
Valencia rejects offers for Mata
Barcelona has been in contact with 22 players
Van Persie, Malouda and Mata next on the list


Watch a video of Mata here: