BARCELONA GATHER FUNDS TO SUBMIT JUAN MATA BID TO CHELSEA

ABOVE: Juan Mata has attracted the interest of Barcelona

Sources in Spain suggest Mourinho has blocked a wage increase for Mata

19th June 2013

By Jack Wilson

BARCELONA are interested in snapping up Chelsea star Juan Mata.

Mata, 25, enjoyed a super season at Stamford Bridge and helped the Blues to the Europa League title.
But the arrival of Jose Mourinho has put his future in doubt.
Sources in Spain suggest Mourinho has blocked a wage increase which Mata, who is contracted until 2016, may have been entitled to.
Barca look likely to sell Christian Tello and Thiago Alcantara and cash from those two deals could fund a £30m bid for the Spanish international.

Mata is currently on international duty at the Confederations Cup and has done nothing to play down the speculation linking him with a move away.
Instead, he insisted all his attentions were on matters with his national team.
Mata said: "I really enjoyed this season. It was a tough and long for us, but at the end we won a trophy so it was good.
"I really love to play with my national team, so all I can do is train and look forward to playing, because I love to play football."