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Barcelona ready to swoop for unwanted Chelsea star Juan Mata
CHELSEA playmaker Juan Mata could be set to move to Barcelona this summer, after reports in the Spanish press indicated that Jose Mourinho is prepared to let him return to La Liga.
Mata recently claimed that he was happy at Stamford Bridge and that "nobody at Chelsea has told me that Mourinho wants me out", whilst away on international duty with Spain at the Confederations Cup.
However, according to Spanish sports paper Mundo Deportivo, Mourinho is preparing to sell Mata in order to raise funds for new signings, with Barcelona interested in securing the 25-year-old.
Despite contributing 20 goals and 35 assists during the course of last season for the Blues, Mata is reportedly unwanted by the Portuguese manager as he prepares to reshape the club in his second spell in West London.
Barcelona are keen on bringing the playmaker back to Spain this summer, just two years after he left Valencia for a fee of £23.5million.
The Catalan club are ready to bid for Mata in spite of their heavy outlay on Brazilian prodigy Neymar, with a move likely if youngsters Thiago Alcantara - linked with Manchester United - or Christian Tello depart the Nou Camp.
Barcelona president Sandro Rossell is a long-time admirer of Spanish international Mata, and knows losing Thiago or Tello would be accepted by the fans if the Chelsea midfielder was brought in as a replacement.