The football world is currently getting carried along on the wave of speculation which surrounds the massive transfer of Juan Mata to Manchester United.
We still can’t quite believe that Chelsea have sanctioned the deal and think that they have given Manchester United and David Moyes and get out of jail free card. The money will now be flying in to the bookies on Manchester United finishing in the top four.
Because, we think, that Mata to Manchester United is an even bigger deal than Ozil to Arsenal. Manchester United are desperate for a boost, after a shocking season so far, and to be able to sign a world-class player in January is beyond the expectations of most fans – and probably even the club itself.
The player can now concentrate on getting Manchester United into the top four and getting himself perfectly prepared for the World Cup. Now that he is guaranteed a place in this first 11 he will surely be on the plane to Brazil with the Spain national squad. Simply put this guy is one of the top 10 players in the world on form. £37m is a snip.
But amidst all that hype there has been some perhaps even better news for Manchester United fans today. Because reports in the Daily Mail and other media outlets suggest that Wayne Rooney is in negotiations over a new contract with Manchester United – a contract that will, in all likelihood, see him through to the end of his career.
Wayne Rooney’s agent has been locked in talks with Manchester United chief executive Ed Woodward over a new deal for the England star.
Rooney, who has 18 months left to run on his contract, has attracted interest from Chelsea and Spanish giants Real Madrid.
The forward’s agent Paul Stretford was at United’s Carrington training base on Wednesday before returning on Thursday morning to hold further discussions, with Rooney’s Old Trafford future topping the agenda.
Mata will be a huge signing Manchester United if a deal goes through. But Wayne Rooney will always be Manchester United’s talisman. Without him Manchester United have lacked bite and fighting spirit over the last few weeks and his absence has been huge. He is the heartbeat of the team.
Manchester United must hold on to Wayne Rooney at all costs and this news will be music to the ears of true supporters of the club.
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Sir Cecil
Jan 24, 2014 at 4:09 am
Pleasing that you think Mata is one of the Top Ten players in the world. Not so pleasing that you are talking nonsense. He isn’t even a first choice for his own country’s team, so that makes him at least 12th. He also isn’t as good as Silva, Corzola, Modric and Oscar, players who work hard as well as play creatively. That makes Mata 16th at best. And then we have Ronaldo, Suarez, Messi, Robben… even Rooney and about thirty others. That puts Mata about 50th.
Mata COULD be in the Top 20, if only he wasn’t so scared of tackling for fear of grazing himself, and if he had the stamina of a twenty-five year old, instead of what seems to be the legs of a 32 year old. But his skill is wonderful, for ten minutes of each half. The rest of the time, he’s hidden from view. He’ll win one game in four on his own with great skill – but he’ll help lose a couple too, through being a part-timer.
Chelsea had Mata for the last two seasons. No coincidence they finished further behind the leaders than in any other seasons since well before Abramovich arrived. This season, he’s not playing and lo and behold… Chelsea are challenging again. Coincidence? I’ll back my own judgment, and Mourinho’s.
Enjoy the flashes of genius. Sometimes they are worth the wait between them.
Steve
Jan 24, 2014 at 4:44 am
You surely would eat your words by the end of this season. The analysis of Mata that you gave is from a biased, jealous and hurting heart. You want to eat your cake and still have it. Mind you, Chelsea is not winning the league rather Manchester City would followed by Arsenal then Chelsea 3rd. Agree that Mou made a great mistake and his calculations would back fire.
Chelsea Alan
Jan 24, 2014 at 4:50 am
Spot on and I could not have put it better myself. Good luck to Mata as he seems a very genuine guy and I’m sure that he will improve this poor United side. Chelsea have got a very good price for him and I dare say Jose will improve this impressive Chelsea squad even further. We are now one World class striker away from having a very very good team.
charlie
Jan 24, 2014 at 4:11 am
Thank u for signing mata,lets try to sign a leftback,acentreback,nd vidal by offering nani nd vidic to juventus
dmaestro
Jan 24, 2014 at 5:08 am
@sir cecil … you comparing mata’s creativity with oscar’s or carzola? please check the stat between them before spouting this nonsense.
cyril
Jan 24, 2014 at 6:23 am
Moys do whatever it takes to get those players thats on your list and shut everyone up.
Bamboo
Jan 24, 2014 at 7:23 am
Haha well the stats show that he does tackle go have a look at his stats for last season muppets!! So sounds like ya just bitter! Jose just didn’t like the lad so that’s it! Jose is a magician same place same points as last season great improvement! All this Jose shite is sooo overrated!
Destiny
Jan 24, 2014 at 9:43 am
haha thats a good signing for UTD hope we shall push to the 4th position
Jem
Jan 24, 2014 at 10:25 am
Are Man U “Buying” a top 4 place. Last year broke the bank for Van Persie this year breaking the bank for Mata. How is is that if City run out and spend colossal amounts on players we are “Buying” success, but if Utd do it, it’s “rebuilding” or “fortifying”. Before you say Utd are spending their own money while City are spending owners money, don’t forget City don’t owe a penny, Utd owe hundreds of millions & if fair play was really fair play shouldn’t be allowed to buy anyone till the debt is clear. Utd “ruining” football?
Oldnail
Jan 24, 2014 at 11:29 am
jem?? RVCP was 23m City and Chelski spent 100m each… and both have out spent United by 100%(double) over the least few seasons. As for Chelsea being better this season they spent 100m in the off season so should be!! Sort of agree though with kagawa and Mata United have two identical players.. what’s the point you ask?? ****ed if I know..But that make Fellaini playing out of position 27m and Mata same as what we have 37m.. Basically we have two amateurs in charge of United..
Jem
Jan 25, 2014 at 10:08 am
Yes, but City were starting from a standing still position and had to spend more. The point is not we spent double (we had to as we were crap and no one wanted to play for us) the point is Utd are spending and spending big to stay up there, just like everyone else, put simply, people in glass houses shouldn’t throw stones.
manutDevil
Jan 24, 2014 at 11:36 am
@Jem..haters gone a be hated..hahaa..good joob moyes..just doing what do u feel rite..they are just so jelousy n was so scare if we beat up their team and win a every single cup n thay got nothing..glory2 man utd..
mr ramsey
Jan 24, 2014 at 11:49 am
Wow jem thats really told us off hasn’t it. Trust a screwy city fan to twist ownership situation. No wonder they call your fans bitters. I seem to recall reading a while back that rules or laws will be put in place to stop any future Glazer type take overs from happening again. That was then and eventually they will break even with the banks. Watch out pal. Once a bitter always a bitter.
Jem
Jan 25, 2014 at 10:10 am
I’m glad you agree with me.
daniel james
Jan 24, 2014 at 2:24 pm
mata u re welcome 2 mancherster united
jim brown
Jan 24, 2014 at 3:12 pm
I DONT CARE WHO SPENDS WHAT YOU ARE ALL VERY CHILISH dose it realy matter as long as we watch some of the best football in the world stop trying to make points and i mean arsen and pellimoaner at one stage utd only had to look at a player and city whent out and bought him and one more thing you city fans just think back about 4 or5 season before some oil rich preson who needed a tax dodge you lot would still be having utd left overs
parikshit
Jan 24, 2014 at 5:12 pm
Sign reus and gundogan or koke or vidal and we will become best again
Imy
Jan 24, 2014 at 6:41 pm
Re Gem: The difference with Manchester United is, that we had history before buying Robin van Persie and for that case Wayne Rooney/Veron and Rio. On the other hand both the Russians and the Arabs had no history compared to United when they started splashing silly cash to create history and a fan zone!
Jem
Jan 25, 2014 at 6:11 pm
What do you mean by “History”? Every club has history. Are you suggesting, for example, that Notts Forest have no history because they never won the premier league, even though the won back to back European Cups at a time when you actually had to be champions to get there? Football existed before the premier league. I’m not having ago at Man Utd for buying players, fair play to them. I’m just interested in the fans who can’t see that there is no difference between City spending lots of money and Utd spending lots of money, cos there aint. In the premier league if you want to stay in the big boys club you have to spend.
Jules
Jan 24, 2014 at 6:48 pm
Jem has got a point. United really are trying to buy a top 4 place. I find it astonishing that people harp on about City and Chelsea spending so much money when United have been buying teams for years. This romantic notion of the United team consisting mainly of academy youngsters who have been developed and slowly blooded into the first team is just tosh. The average starting 11 for Man U is pushing the 200 million mark when Rooney and RVP play. English Academy talents like Welbeck are just bench warmers who make way when the expensive imports are available again.Without checking the transfer fee figures I believe from memory United have spent around 700 million on players since the inception of the premier league. No wonder the likes of Zaha never even got a look in and little wonder Chelsea and Man City had to spend so much money when they got rich. They needed to do this in order to get on a level playing field with their big spending rivals. For years United have had a monopoly on success because the other sides couldn’t compete with them financially. How dare their fans have the temerity to complain because their rivals have come along and been able to play them at their own game and outspend them.
Robert
Jan 26, 2014 at 1:30 am
The difference is United’s money has come from the club building a successful commercial vehicle and being creative off the pitch as a brand. Not from an easy hand out. That’s the difference. From comments I’ve seen Chelsea fans think because mata doesn’t fit Jose’s system he’s not that good….wrong. Messi would not fit Jose’s system because he doesn’t work back…are Oscar or Cazorla (both good players, stated as examples) better than Messi? No…. Everyone here has an opinion, but few have experience of how football works on a tactical level!