Before Juan Mata made the move from Chelsea to Manchester United he knew that big things were going to happen at Old Trafford regarding the transfer market. Mata was given advance knowledge of all the acquisition activity we’ve seen this summer and last pas summer. Manager Louis van Gaal has publicly said that two more signings are on the way; complementing the approximately £80 million that has spent thus far.
Last year saw a spending spree of £153 million with Executive Vice Chairman Ed Woodward telling everybody to “watch this space. This year’s soundbite is “the sooner the better” regarding additional players. When Juan Mata arrived in January of 2014, he was the club’s record signing at £37 million.
That all time highest expenditure was obliterated by the £59.7 million spent on Angel Di Maria in the summer of 2014. Mata was told that this was all in the works.
Juan Mata is quoted today in the BBC:
“They told me ‘you are very important, you are one of the first.'”
“This is a question for Ed Woodward and Van Gaal. I am quite happy with the players we have at the moment. Obviously I think they are looking in the market to bring a few more in. Let’s see what happens.”
Nicolas Otamendi seems to be the most realistic of all the names linked to Old Trafford right now. And all the tabloids are going crazy with Gareth Bale rumors today. Given how much he would cost, a lot of business would need to be sorted out before we can start talking Bale having a Medical at United and holding up a new red kit with his name on it at an introductory press conference.
Juan Mata believes that United can win the Premier League title already with players they have. He extolled the virtues of Van Gaal.
“I think he’s good. Obviously he has a lot of experience. He has character,” Mata said.
“He has his philosophy and he follows that philosophy until the end. It’s good for the players. The football that he wants us to play is an attractive football and I love that football so I think it’s just a matter of time.”
Paul M. Banks owns, operates and writes The Sports Bank.net, which is partnered with Fox Sports Digital. Banks, a former writer for the Washington Times, currently contributes to the Chicago Tribune RedEye edition. He also appears regularly on numerous sports talk radio stations all across the country.
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