Mourinho Wants Mata To Stay As Chelsea Rage At Barca’s Attempt To Unsettle Star

With the summer transfer window set to open, there is plenty of gossip doing the rounds in the newspapers so we’ll keep you up-to-date with the latest Arsenal transfer rumours. Today, Juan Mata is set to stay at Chelsea.

Juan Mata is set to stay at Chelsea with the Blues said to be furious with Barcelona over their attempts to unsettle the Spanish attacker, according to the Mirror.

Reports earlier this week had suggested that Mata could be set for a shock £30m move to Barcelona after new boss Jose Mourinho apparently blocked a pay rise due to the 25-year-old this summer. The former Valencia man has just come off the back of a stunning campaign last season that resulted in 19 goals and 35 assists and this haul earned him a pay increase as per the terms of his contract, but Mourinho was understood to have blocked the wage rise.

However, the Mirror claim that Chelsea have strenuously denied these reports or that Mata is heading for the exit door with Mourinho believed to see the attacking midfielder as an important first team player next season and one who will be a pivotal figure in his new-look starting eleven.

The newspaper suggests that the Europa League winners believe that Barcelona are simply trying to unsettle their star man and the club are said to be furious at the Catalans for using underhand tactics to try and engineer a move.

Mata is currently away on international duty at the Confederations Cup in Brazil and Mourinho was expected to wait until he had returned before discussing his plans for him next season, however given the recent developments the Portuguese boss may decide to give the attacker a quick phonecall to put his mind at ease and make clear he sees him as an integral part of his side next term.

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