Barcelona have signed Valencia Winger Juan Mata, according to Spanish radio station Onda Cero. A €20million deal is said to have been agreed between the two clubs and Mata has reportedly signed a 5 year contract at the Nou Camp. The Catalan club have been looking at possible replacements for Thierry Henry on the left side of midfield, and the fee agreed looks to have been predicated on Valencia’s poor financial situation. Barca had a bid rejected for the player last summer but with Valencia €600m in debt, the sales of both David Villa for €40m and Juan Mata have been essential to get the club on a better financial footing. It was rumoured that a move to the Premier League was on the cards for the player, with Manchester City interested, but he has opted to stay in his home country. Speaking to FourFourTwo recently, the 22 year old said:
“In Spain they show many Premier League games on TV and it is an inspirational league. Maybe I would like to play in the Premier League. At the moment I’m here, I love living in Valencia and playing in the Spanish league, but in England the league is also top class and there are many big teams. Who knows? I admire Arsenal and the philosophy that the young players have. Liverpool, with their Spanish players – they also have an incredible squad. And Manchester United and Chelsea are teams that are very big, like Real Madrid and Barcelona, with money and incredible players.”
