The Daily Mail – take a bow.
The tabloid newspaper definitely takes the biscuit for the most ridiculous rumour of the week, with the sensational claim that Arsenal will move for twice Chelsea Player of the Season winner Juan Mata.
The amazing claim was published just after 11:00am today, with the Mail website claiming:
“Sportsmail understands the Gunners are being kept updated with regards to the former Valencia man's future with a view to launching an audacious swoop should Chelsea decide to sell.”
Rubbish
Mata has been an integral member of the Blues’ squad in both of the two seasons he has played in since his move from Valencia in 2010. Both years the Spaniard has taken their Player of the Season award, this year becoming one of only 4 Barclays Premier League players to reach double figures in both goals and assists alongside Gunners Santi Cazorla and Theo Walcott along with United’s Wayne Rooney.
Mata has played 118 times for Chelsea, scoring 32 goals in all competitions and assisting 59. This season alone he chipped in with 12 goals and 12 assists as Chelsea finished 3rd and won the Europa League.
Any bid for Mata from Arsenal would be completely pointless, as Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho has already insisted that the 25-year-old – along with Brazilian defender David Luiz – ARE part of his plans for 2013/14.
This claim came after a number of sources reported that Luiz or Mata could be offered as part of a swap deal for Wayne Rooney. The claim turned out to be bogus, with Mourinho reiterating:
“There is no chance. No chance.” When asked about the sale of either man.
Juan Mata will not be an Arsenal player next season, especially with the amount of funds already rumoured to be leaving the Emirates on Luis Suarez, Gonzalo Higuain and maybe even Rooney. The price for Mata would be way too high, plus Chelsea would be mad to sell one of their prize possessions.
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