La Liga champions Barcelona are reportedly unwilling to match Manchester United playmaker Juan Mata’s £170,000-a-week wages.

According to a report from The Sun, Manchester United superstar Juan Mata may have to take a pay cut, if he wants to seal a summer switch to Catalan giants Barcelona. The midfielder’s contract with the Red Devils is set to run out at the end of the season and the La Liga champions are interested, but are unwilling to match his current wages.

Mata has been with Manchester United since January 2014, when he sealed a £37.1 million move from Red Devils’ rivals Chelsea. The Spanish international has established himself as a firm fan favourite at the club, but has seen game time hard to come by since Ole Gunnar Solskjaer took over the reins back in December.

Mata, in the ongoing campaign, has scored 6 goals and set up 4 more across all competitions, but has started just 10 of the 27 matches that Solskjaer has been in-charge of. And with Manchester United seeking attacking reinforcements in the summer, the former Chelsea man is sure to be considering his future at the club.

Negotiations over a new contract worth £170,000-a-week were believed to be in progress between the two parties, but no agreement has been arrived at. Moreover, recent reports have claimed that Mata is upset with the club for giving preferential treatment to some of the English players who were also in the final years of their deals, leading to him contemplating an exit.

Will Mata join Barcelona in the summer? (Photo by PAUL ELLIS/AFP/Getty Images)
Will Mata join Barcelona in the summer? (Photo by Paul Ellis/AFP/Getty Images)

Barcelona have been monitoring his situation for a while now. The Catalans have a packed midfield department and given the way Ernesto Valverde sets his teams up, there isn’t much of a need for a No. 10 like Mata. However, the Spaniard has proven quite adept at playing on the right flank for United and given his prior experience in La Liga, he could prove to be a shrewd purchase for the club.

However, as per the latest report, the La Liga champions are not willing to match the player’s wage demands, which would mean Mata might have to take a pay cut if he wants to seal a summer switch to Camp Nou. The 31-year-old has also attracted interest from Barcelona’s rivals Atletico Madrid, while Arsenal are also understood to be in the mix.

Mata’s exit from Manchester United once the season draws to a close seems like a very strong possibility. However, it remains to be seen if the Spanish playmaker ends up joining Barcelona or moves to some other club.

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