Blues boss explains controversial player sale.
Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho has revealed to Gary Neville in his interview with the Daily Telegraph why he made the decision to sell Juan Mata to Manchester United last season, the Daily Express reports.
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The Spanish playmaker was one of Chelsea’s best players before Mourinho’s arrival at Stamford Bridge, which saw him dropped from the first-team before being offloaded to United in January last year.
This was seen as something of a surprise move by the Portuguese coach, with the big clubs rarely selling key players to each other, but it has now been revealed that the Blues’ financial situation may have played a part.
Mourinho feels that Chelsea’s need to meet Financial Fair Play rules means the club have to consider good bids from any team for their players, with Mata emerging as one whom he couldn’t fit into his side.
Chelsea then signed a similar player in Cesc Fabregas for cheaper this summer, meaning Mourinho’s approach to the Mata situation may have been vindicated, particularly as the ex-Blues attacker has not quite hit top form since his transfer to Old Trafford either.
Despite interest from Juventus and Barcelona, United made the best offer, Mourinho has revealed.
“For example, Mata to Man Utd. We are losing a very good player to a direct opponent. Would this have happened 10 years ago? Maybe not,” he said.
“But in the modern football and the new economic reality [for Chelsea], if Man Utd pays you an important amount of money he has to go.
“It is my club’s vision. It’s my boss, Mr Abramovich, the board. And I share it.
“I’m not the sort of manager that says – no, not to Man Utd. Sell Mata to Juventus or Barcelona but not Man Utd.
“Chelsea cannot have 20 replicas. I cannot have Fabregas and another Fabregas getting the same salary.”