5 Possible January Destinations for Manchester United's Juan Mata

When Manchester United spent a then-club record £37 million to acquire Juan Mata from Chelsea, they likely didn’t think they’d be shopping the Spaniard less than a year after completing the transaction.

But that’s the sort of surprise a managerial shakeup can deliver, and with the exit of David Moyes, the man who signed Mata, and the arrival of Louis van Gaal, who doesn’t seem to fancy him, it now appears as though the 26-year-old will be back on the market when the transfer window reopens in January.

Already, and not surprisingly, there are a handful of clubs reported to be interested in landing the playmaker, and over the next few slides we’ll reveal which ones they are.

Following are five possible destinations for Mata, who was named Chelsea Player of the Year in both 2011-12 and 2012-13.

5. Napoli

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Since stumbling out of the gate to start the 2014-15 campaign, Napoli have gone on a bit of a run and are now unbeaten in their last four matches.

But they’ve still managed only eight goals in six Serie A outings so far, and with the offense struggling, they’ll almost certainly look to add a playmaking influence in January.

Linked with Mata last winter, according to the Daily Mirror, the Partenopei could well renew their interest in the upcoming weeks and months.

And with the Daily Mail reporting Rafael Benitez is on shaky footing at the club, it’s possible the Manchester United man could represent a roll of the dice in the manager’s attempt to cement his position at the club.

4. AS Roma

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Manchester United’s pursuit of Kevin Strootman could see Mata offered as a makeweight in an eventual bid for the AS Roma midfielder.

According to the Mirror, the Red Devils have already considered a scenario that would see Mata move to the Italian capital, along with cash, in exchange for Strootman, whom manager Van Gaal brought into the national time while in charge of the Netherlands.

In addition to acquiring Strootman, this deal would also allow United to save face regarding the exit of a player who was so recently their record signing.

3. Atletico Madrid

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Atletico Madrid are another club that attempted to sign Mata last January, according to The Daily Telegraph, and they could well come back in for a player they initially missed out on.

The Daily Star has recently linked the Spanish champions to the 26-year-old, who came through at Real Oviedo and Real Madrid before playing four professional seasons in La Liga with Valencia.

It’s hard to imagine Atletico being able to part with the £37 million it took Manchester United to prise the midfielder from Chelsea earlier this year, but assuming the Premier League outfit would take a loss in any sale for his switch to the Spanish capital is suddenly a possibility.

Atletico are expected to contend for the title once again this season, and they could perhaps justify a significant outlay by anticipating the sale of one or two of their players, such as Koke and Arda Turan, during the summer.

2. Valencia

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Revitalised by inspirational manager Nuno Espirito Santo, Valencia are quickly becoming one of the current season’s feel-good stories.

Unbeaten through seven rounds of La Liga play, Los Che have scored more goals than every side other than Real Madrid and Barcelona and have the second-best defensive record in the division.

They’ve also been spending money as if the prospective takeover of Singapore businessman Peter Lim has been concluded, even though it isn’t. (Inside Spanish Football did a report on the transaction’s wobbles last month.)

But should Lim gain full control of the club, it’s feasible that Mata could be something of a “celebration acquisition.”

After all, it was in 2011—during some of the worst days of Valencia’s financial woes—that the playmaker moved to Chelsea.

1. Juventus

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One club that has both the resources to sign Mata and a potential need in the advanced-midfield position is Juventus.

New manager Massimiliano Allegri tended to use a high-sitting playmaker during his time at AC Milan, and while it isn’t something he’s gone back to since arriving in Turin, he would no doubt prefer to have the tactical option.

Mata would give him that, and according to the Daily Express, the Scudetto holders are readying a £20 million bid for the Spain international.

Just last month the Daily Mail reported Manchester United is seeking £24 million for the player, so it appears the asking price continues to drop.

Louis van Gaal & Co. will surely take a significant financial loss on the player in the event of a sale.