The phone must be ringing off the hook tonight of Juan Mata’s agent after Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho told the World Cup winner that he can leave Chelsea after his furious reaction to today’s 53rd minute substitution at St Mary’s.
Mata ignored Mourinho when he walked off the pitch at Southampton and then slammed a seat in the visiting team dug out as he vented his frustrations.
His replacement Oscar, who was booked for diving, then made two and scored one in Chelsea’s comprehensive 3-0 victory.
Mourinho, clearly aware of his player’s unhappiness, said: ‘I don’t want him to go, that is my opinion and that is my wish – but my door is open,’ he said.
‘The club door is open too, so when a player wants to speak with us we are there waiting for them. But if you ask me do I want to sell him, I don’t want to.
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Mourinho: Door is open for MataJuan Mata was substituted after 53 minutes (Picture: Getty)
Jose Mourinho has left the door open for Juan Mata to quit Chelsea this month, despite insisting he doesn’t want the Spaniard to leave.
Mata started today’s match against Southampton, but reacted angrily when he was again substituted before the hour mark by Mourinho.
But while the Chelsea boss insisted he was unaware of the midfielder’s frustration, Mourinho has now indicated that he will not stand in the Spaniard’s way if he wants to leave Stamford Bridge.
‘I don’t want him to go, that is my opinion and that is my wish – but my door is open,’ he said.
‘The club door is open too, so when a player wants to speak with us we are there waiting for them. But if you ask me do I want to sell him, I don’t want to.
‘I didn’t see the reaction, his frustration was because of the result – we have to win.
‘If we don’t win this game then the difference to the leaders is bigger.
‘At the end of the game everyone including him was celebrating the victory.’
Teams will be queuing up to sign Chelsea’s player of the year award for the past two seasons. Manchester United and PSG are the two sides most linked with a move for Mata, but I would expect most of the big clubs in Europe to get involved in the bidding for one of Europe’s best midfield players.
