Barcelona's transfer business is expected to make a few waves, but this latest rumor could see a long-time wish for Los Blaugranas becoming a reality.
According to a report by Spanish radio station Cadena Ser, the current La Liga leaders have started negotiations to lure a Manchester United player away from Old Trafford. The player in question was sought out by the Blaugrana side during Pep Guardiola's stint as coach, and now, the possibility of seeing him back in the Spanish top flight has increased.
That player is none other than Juan Mata, whose contract with the Red Devils ends with the season. The 30-year-old's father is well-aware of Barcelona's interest in his son's services, but the club has made it clear to the Matas that his signing is not a top priority for the Blaugrana side.
Mata is expected to leave Manchester United after only playing 1,553 minutes with the team. He left Valencia to join Chelsea in 2011, and he has always stated that he would enjoy playing his final seasons in a La Liga club.
According to Cadena Ser, discussions between Mata's father and Barcelona execs took place on Tuesday, hours before the UEFA Champions League clash between these sides. Mata did not play a single minute of the game that ended 1-0 in Barcelona's favor.
It seems like a long-shot for now, but it would be interesting to see an experienced footballer like Mata sharing the pitch with Vidal, Arthur and Busquets, to name a few. Nevertheless, the Spaniard will seemingly have to wait for other transfer options to materialize before he even starts negotiating terms to join the best team in the 2018-19 La Liga season.
