Former Manchester United midfielder Juan Mata appears to have finally found a new club a few months after departing Old Trafford.
The ex-Spanish international waved farewell to Old Trafford this summer at the end of his deal having enjoyed a successful eight-and-a-half year spell with the Red Devils. He has gone without a club over the past few months. However, as a free agent, he is able to negotiate with any club and finally appears to have settled on his next destination with Turkish Super League outfit Galatasaray in talks to sign him.
A club statement read: “Official negotiations have started with the football player regarding the transfer of professional football player Juan Manuel Mata Garcia to our club.”
Following that, Mata was confirmed to have flown into Istanbul for further talks with Galatasaray with the two parties expected to thrash out a deal.
Should the 34-year-old’s move to the Nef Stadyumu be confirmed, then he will be joining a number of former Premier League players at the club. Former Crystal Palace defender Patrick van Aanholt and Swansea City striker Bafetimbi Gomis currently ply their trades for Galatasaray and have been joined by ex-Arsenal star Lucas Torreira - the Uruguayan completing a permanent move to the club this summer.
He could well be joined by a further number of familiar faces with Mauro Icardi, Milot Rashica and Caglar Soyuncu continuing to be linked with switches before the Turkish transfer window closes on Thursday.
Mata, a World Cup winner, started his career in Real Madrid ’s youth ranks before switching across Spain with a move to Valencia. After catching the eye at the Mestalla, he was snapped up by Chelsea and was twice named the Blues’ player of the season before Jose Mourinho decided to sell him to Man Utd.
What is your highlight of Juan Mata at Man Utd? Share your thoughts in the comments below
The 41-time international eventually managed to make 285 appearances with the Red Devils and won the Europa League, FA Cup and League Cup during his time at Old Trafford.
He will now be hoping to have an immediate impact for his new club should a move be rubber-stamped. After a miserable 13th-placed finish in the league last season, Okan Buruk’s men currently sit seventh in the current standings having won three out of their opening five league games of the table - albeit having only scored four goals in that time.
Mata could potentially make his debut for the club this weekend with Galatasaray set to take on Kasimpasa away from home.
He was previously linked with a move to MLS but as per reports, the midfielder was willing to wait over his next opportunity and now looks set to move to Turkey - albeit will not be playing in Europe for the forthcoming campaign.
