Report: Atletico and Juventus Interested in £20M Man Juan Mata

Since Louis van Gaal took charge at Manchester United, the future of several of the stars he inherited at Old Trafford has been in serious question.

The likes of Anderson and Tom Cleverley—one of whom has already left the club—are clearly out of favor in LvG's mind, and it now seems another high-profile United star could be set for the exit.

Juan Mata has been in and out of Louis van Gaal's side since he took charge prior to the start of the season, but he has certainly been an active part of the squad so far this campaign.

However, per Jamie Anderson of the Daily Express, it seems Mata's days at Old Trafford finally look set to be numbered:

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Manchester United are willing to offload former Chelsea and Spanish international Juan Mata for £20m.

According to Spanish reports Louis van Gaal has yet to witness Mata justify his £37.1m price-tag, and is prepared to try an recoup some of his sizeable transfer fee in January.

Juventus and Atletico Madrid are two of a number of European clubs interested in prizing the tricky attacking midfielder away from Manchester, and certainly have the financial muscle to make the deal happen.

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If true, there are a couple of issues that stick out from the story. It's certainly valid to argue that Mata simply hasn't lived up to the commanding fee that United shelled out for him—and given how he isn't a Louis van Gaal signing, the Dutchman is under no obligation to keep him.

Given the discontent and drama that was the David Moyes era at Manchester United, perhaps the club feel the best option would be to sell a player who was effectively Moyes' last roll of the dice—even with such a massive loss in money.

Mata's form has been far from sparkling under Van Gaal—largely because he is playing such an inhibited role with the club. He rescued three points for the club at the weekend against Crystal Palace, but the general feeling is that Mata is too good to be sat on the bench at Old Trafford.

At the age of 26, Mata will feel he still has his best years in front of him, and won't want to spend them sat on the bench. A return to his native Spain will surely appeal massively—especially given how the report details former club Valencia are in the fray for his signature, too.

But in all honesty, Atleti looks his most likely destination. Diego Simeone will be able to rebuild Mata's career—which has gone off the rails a little in the last 18 months. 

He struggled to command a position in Jose Mourinho's Chelsea side, and is now suffering the same fate again at United. If Atleti can get hold of Mata, they will have a rough diamond on their hands that can once again shine—given the right role in a side.

Of course, the lure of Champions League football—something United currently don't have—will be another big factor in any move Mata makes, with both Juventus and Atleti likely to reach the last 16 of the competition this season—even with Olympiakos proving to be a bit of a nuisance for both clubs in Group A.

One thing seems certain amid all this, though. Mata's days at United look numbered—which will come as a shame for some United fans, because his signature was (rightly) heralded as a huge one when he arrived in January.

But as it turns out, the player and the club just don't seem to fit together at the current time.