Manchester United midfielder Juan Mata. (Photo : Getty Images)
Manchester United attacking midfielder Juan Mata is insistent that he would stay at the Old Trafford next season despite strong interest from Merseyside squad Everton.
The 28-year-old Spanish footballer, who failed to be called to the Spain squad that competed in this summer's UEFA European Championship, wants to forget the disappointment of the Red Fury snub and come back and play for United next season as he is said to be ready to "fight for his place" in Jose Mourinho's rotation "despite interest from Everton," according to Daily Mail Online.
Speculations abound that Mata could end up playing with his former Valencia manager Ronald Koeman, who recently transferred from Southampton, in Everton this summer as Mourinho is expected to sell him before the new season starts in August.
The Portuguese boss was the one who sold him to the Red Devils back in January 2014 when the two men are still at the Stamford Bridge despite Mata winning Chelsea's Player of the Year award twice in 2011-2012 and 2012-2013.
Mourinho is rumored to be planning a summer swoop for Borussia Dortmund's Henrikh Mkhitaryan and with the Armenia captain allegedly finished with his "medical at Carrington on Monday", Mata's exit seems to be drawing nearer and nearer.
The report noted, though, that one of Mata's suitors are the reigning La Liga champions FC Barcelona, who are said to be keen in bringing him back to Spain next season, which is not bad at all for the former Real Madrid B player.
Barça is reportedly "looking to strengthen their attacking ranks despite boasting the impressive trident of Lionel Messi, Luis Suárez, and Neymar" and they believe Mata can be effective as a central midfielder.
Meanwhile, The Sun reported that Everton is currently preparing a £20 million bid for Mata and that the Red Devils are willing to sell for such amount.
Rumors are out that Mourinho is trying to sell him again as the midfielder's style of play is allegedly not fit in the system that the Special One is trying to implement and so he was told that "he has no future at Old Trafford" under the new boss.
In two-and-a-half seasons with United, Mata had appeared in a total of 104 games in all competitions, scoring 26 times in the said time span.
