Mata to demand talks with Mourinho over Chelsea future

Sources close to the midfielder insist he wants to stay at Stamford Bridge but he will seek assurances amid reports that Mourinho is ready to listen to offers this summer

Juan Mata will demand talks with Jose Mourinho to clarify his Chelsea future amid reports the new Stamford Bridge boss is prepared to sell the club’s player of the year.

Mata, currently on international duty with Spain at the Confederations Cup, is understood to feel aggrieved that he has, as yet, received no clarification over his future at the club.

The 25-year-old has not spoken to Mourinho since the Portuguese’s second spell in charge at Stamford Bridge was confirmed last month.

He does not intend to talk to Mourinho until after Spain’s involvement in the Confederations Cup in Brazil, where he started and scored in the 10-0 victory over Tahiti at the Maracana on Thursday.

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Sources close to Mata in the Spain camp insist he is happy at Stamford Bridge and have refuted suggestions of a disagreement with the club over a proposed increase on his salary, understood to be worth around £70,000-a-week.

“The last thing he expected this summer was to be wondering about his future,” said the source.

“He loves playing for Chelsea but nobody likes to hear that the coach might not like them. He is asking himself ‘where have these stories come from?’

“For now, he is focussed on the Confederations Cup but it needs to be addressed when the tournament finishes.”

Barcelona have been linked with a £30 million bid for the former Valencia man, who was named Chelsea’s player of the year last season and has three years remaining on his contract.

Mata is indeed hopeful of a pay rise to reflect his importance to the Londoners since his arrival from Valencia in a £23m deal in 2011.

While Mata is privately perplexed by doubts over his future, he has publicly insisted that he has no reason to question whether he will be at Chelsea next term.

"Nobody at Chelsea has told me that Mourinho wants me out," Mata told Marca this week.

"When I finished the season I was told that they were very happy with my performances and with the two years I've spent with the club. I have three years left on my contract. I'm very happy with Chelsea.

"Mourinho? I'd prefer to wait until I meet him and work with him before I judge him. That's simple logic."

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