Valencia want to re-sign Man Utd's Mata

Valencia are interested in re-signing Manchester United playmaker Juan Mata, and have even sent a delegation to England to push through a deal, according to reports in Spain.

Plaza Deportiva are reporting that Valencia are trying to re-sign Juan Mata, with the Manchester United player’s future having been brought into question since the arrival of José Mourinho as manager at Old Trafford.

It is even claimed that the Spanish club have sent a delegation of club officials to England to negotiate a deal with United.

Mata played for Valencia as a teenager in 2007, having left Real Madrid. The attacking midfielder went on to make 129 La Liga appearances for Los Che, scoring 33 goals, before his £23.5 million move to Chelsea in 2011.

Mata’s Chelsea career got off to a flying start, as he was named the club’s player of the year in each of his first two seasons, helping the Blues win the FA Cup, Champions League and Europa League.

But Mourinho’s return to Stamford Bridge in 2013 saw Mata relegated to the bench and sold to United in January 2014 for £37.1 million.

Mourinho’s appointment at Old Trafford brought Mata’s future into question, but the Spaniard has featured from the start in both of United’s Premier League games of the new season, and scored a crucial opening goal in the Red Devils’ 3-1 win over Bournemouth.