The Busby Babe - Juan Mata live transfer updates: Spaniard's move to Old Trafford made officialWhere it's always squeaky bum timehttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/51377/tbb-fav.png2014-01-27T14:29:19+00:00http://thebusbybabe.sbnation.com/rss/stream/51017972014-01-27T14:29:19+00:002014-01-27T14:29:19+00:00Mata to wear number 8 at United
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<figcaption>Julian Finney</figcaption>
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<p>Juan Mata will wear the number 8 shirt at Manchester United, the club have announced.</p> <p>Manchester United have announced that Juan Mata will wear the number 8 shirt at the club, taking over from the recently-departed Anderson.</p>
<p>While we can imagine that Mata's career at Old Trafford will go rather better than the Brazilian, it leaves the question open as to who will take the number 7 shirt. Either Adnan Januzaj or a new signing from the club look the most likely there. Or, of course, perhaps we're just saving it for when Cristiano Ronaldo inevitably comes home. He will, won't he?</p>
<p>Some people really seem to care about shirt numbers. Others couldn't be less minded if they tried. Personally, I'll just be happy if he doesn't insist on being called 'JM8' and bring out a range of clothing based on his number. Little victories.</p>
<p>Oh, and personally, I'd like to see the number 7 shirt retired. Not in honour of Eric Cantona or George Best, but just because Michael Owen has forever tainted it.</p>
https://thebusbybabe.sbnation.com/2014/1/27/5349980/juan-mata-will-wear-the-number-8-shirt-at-manchester-unitedCallum Hamilton2014-01-25T21:48:56+00:002014-01-25T21:48:56+00:00Quotes from Juan Mata's first interview
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<figcaption>Jasper Juinen</figcaption>
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<p>Juan Mata has given his first interview as a Manchester United player, and we have all the quotes and reaction here.</p> <p><span>Juan Mata</span> has given an interview to MUTV after signing for <a href="https://thebusbybabe.sbnation.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Manchester United</a>, and revealed a few details on the move.</p>
<p>Firstly, the club confirmed the fee as being £37.1m, which is unusual considering clubs almost always cite an 'undisclosed' fee, especially for transfers of this size.</p>
<p>Secondly, <span>David Moyes</span> confirmed that Juan Mata is likely to play on Tuesday against <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/soccer/epl/teams/cardiff-city" class="sbn-auto-link">Cardiff City</a>, saying "I'd like to get him involved in some way if I can." On that game, Mata said "I'm looking forward to play my first game and score."</p>
<p>Mata also revealed that David de Gea was "important for [him] arriving here", stating "he was texting me asking if I was coming by helicopter or bike" (something that most United fans will sympathise with.</p>
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https://thebusbybabe.sbnation.com/2014/1/25/5345472/juan-mata-manchester-united-mutv-interview-quotes-transcript-david-de-geaCallum Hamilton2014-01-25T21:35:45+00:002014-01-25T21:35:45+00:00Officially official: Juan Mata is a red
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<figcaption>Angel Martinez</figcaption>
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<p>It's all over - Juan Mata is officialy a Manchester United player after the club announced his signing from Chelsea.</p> <p>Finally, it's over. Juan Mata is a <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://thebusbybabe.sbnation.com/">Manchester United</a> player. No ifs, no buts, no subject to medicals or personal agreements, and best of all, no Chelseas.</p>
<p>The deal, of course, is believed to be around £37m while his wages are suggested to be around the £150,000 a week mark (significantly less than <span>Wayne Rooney</span> and Robin van Persie, if anyone's bothered about that sort of thing.)</p>
<p>United announced the signing on their Twitter feed:</p>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en">
<p>Medical complete, deal done. <a href="https://twitter.com/juanmata10">@JuanMata10</a> is a Red! <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23mufcmata&src=hash">#mufcmata</a> <a href="http://t.co/DmXTk5z44e">http://t.co/DmXTk5z44e</a> <a href="http://t.co/TjgzjPhWvl">pic.twitter.com/TjgzjPhWvl</a></p>
— Manchester United (@ManUtd) <a href="https://twitter.com/ManUtd/statuses/427191724574642176">January 25, 2014</a>
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So, this means he's also very likely to be registered in time for the game against <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/soccer/epl/teams/cardiff-city">Cardiff City</a>. We can now look forward and start dreaming if we hadn't been already.</p>
<p>Full quotes from <span>Juan Mata's</span> first interview as a Manchester United player will be posted on the site to follow. You can keep track of the story in our storystream here.</p>
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https://thebusbybabe.sbnation.com/2014/1/25/5345456/manchester-united-juan-mata-transfer-fee-salary-wagesCallum Hamilton2014-01-25T21:23:17+00:002014-01-25T21:23:17+00:00Juan Mata changes his Twitter to 'United player'
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<figcaption>Angel Martinez</figcaption>
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<p>Juan Mata appeared to confirm that he has signed for Manchester United by changing his Twitter bio to reflect his status as a red.</p> <p>It seems like the <span>Juan Mata</span> deal could finally be done, as yet another indication that he's signed for <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://thebusbybabe.sbnation.com/">Manchester United</a> came in the shape of the player changing his Twitter bio.</p>
<p>It now reads:</p>
<p><a target="_blank" href="https://twitter.com/juanmata10">"Twitter oficial del jugador del Manchester United y de la selección española / Official Twitter account of Manchester United's player"</a></p>
<p>Mata seems to be a pretty prolific tweeter, in English and in Spanish, although in such a way that it's difficult to tell whether or not the account is run by him or his representatives. Hopefully he might have something interesting to say than the usual 'good to get the three points/we were robbed' but I wouldn't get too excited.</p>
<p>Whether we'll get an announcement on this or not tonight remains to be seen. Whether or not we'll get an announcement on something else seems very likely - there's more Manchester United transfer news ready to drop later, so stay tuned.</p>
https://thebusbybabe.sbnation.com/2014/1/25/5345412/juan-mata-confirms-his-manchester-united-signing-on-twitterCallum Hamilton2014-01-25T13:22:32+00:002014-01-25T13:22:32+00:00Juan Mata arrives in Manchester, looks suave
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<figcaption>Jamie McDonald</figcaption>
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<p>Juan Mata has arrived at Manchester United's training ground to undergo a medical. And he looks good.</p> <p><span>Juan Mata</span> has arrived at <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://thebusbybabe.sbnation.com/">Manchester United's</a> training ground ahead of his medical. With <a target="_blank" href="http://thebusbybabe.sbnation.com/2014/1/24/5342670/confirmed-manchester-united-announce-juan-mata-signing">United having already confirmed</a> that a fee has been agreed with <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://weaintgotnohistory.sbnation.com/">Chelsea</a>, the Spaniard will today undergo one of the last remaining formalities before his his move to Old Trafford is made officially official.</p>
<p>United posted a rather wondrous photographic update on their Twitter account of Mata's arrival at the Space Age-styled Aon Training complex, which probably has just about every single United fan swooning all over the place:</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en">
<p>Juan Mata has arrived at the Aon Training Complex to begin his medical. <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23mufcmata&src=hash">#mufcmata</a> <a href="http://t.co/LkSnU42pmj">pic.twitter.com/LkSnU42pmj</a></p>
— Manchester United (@ManUtd) <a href="https://twitter.com/ManUtd/statuses/427063364251308032">January 25, 2014</a>
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<p>*thud* ...</p>
<p>Providing there's no hitches -- and there really shouldn't be -- the transfer will hopefully be signed and sealed today, and we'll see him take to the field in anger against <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/soccer/epl/teams/cardiff-city">Cardiff City</a> on Tuesday.</p>
<p>Welcome to Manchester, Juan -- or, should that be Mr. Mata?</p>
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https://thebusbybabe.sbnation.com/2014/1/25/5344200/juan-mata-manchester-united-medical-chelseaJack Sargeant2014-01-24T15:30:29+00:002014-01-24T15:30:29+00:00Mata deal could take even longer than thought
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<figcaption>Laurence Griffiths</figcaption>
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<p>Juan Mata's move to Manchester United may not take place until the weekend or even next week, as the club reportedly struggle to negotiate a fee structure with Chelsea.</p> <p><a href="https://thebusbybabe.sbnation.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Manchester United</a> might have to wait until the weekend or even next week to conclude the signing of <span>Juan Mata</span>, according to the Mirror.</p>
<p>The paper report that United and <a href="https://weaintgotnohistory.sbnation.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Chelsea</a> have still to sort out the exact structure of the payment. Fortunately, the report also claims United are 'relaxed' and do not believe there is any chance that the deal could fall through.</p>
<p>Nonetheless, with Ed Woodward at the helm, this is all a bit more worrying than it should be. Whatever happened to the helicopter? Are they using the same plane that Woodward did when he left Australia on 'urgent transfer business'?</p>
<p>Hopefully we can get this sorted as soon as possible so we can continue to dream about where to put him in our lineup once we've signed <span>Marco Reus</span>, Ilkay Gundogan, Ander Herrera and Arturo Vidal. But they're really not making this very easy at all for us at the moment.</p>
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https://thebusbybabe.sbnation.com/2014/1/24/5341430/manchester-united-transfer-news-rumours-juan-mata-chelseaCallum Hamilton2014-01-24T13:32:25+00:002014-01-24T13:32:25+00:00Mata is proper, proper, proper Chelsea, yeah?
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<figcaption>Angel Martinez</figcaption>
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<p>Juan Mata is moving to Manchester United, and in the excitement, we've forgotten one of the best things about the transfer: this is really, really, going to hurt a lot of people.</p> <p>Presenting for your amusement, some of the best reactions to the Juan Mata deal. Obviously some of these were posted when the rumour first happened, because hindsight is a wonderful thing (although not so much as schadenfreude.)</p>
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<p>Oh, and a warning that some of these are mildly NSFW (by which we mean Bad Words, not that any Chelsea fans have taken to nudity or ultraviolence as a way of dealing with their emotions... yet.)</p>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en">
<p>Hoping to goodness that this Mata stuff turns out to be nonsense. Really can't imagine hearing that lot sing his name. He is proper Chelsea.</p>
— Ashley Connick (@AshleyConnick) <a href="https://twitter.com/AshleyConnick/statuses/425768221652684801">January 21, 2014</a>
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<p>Sorry about clogging your timelines but those last RT's literally so accurate. Mata is proper Chelsea.</p>
— Jake Ralph (@carefreejake) <a href="https://twitter.com/carefreejake/statuses/425766855471816704">January 21, 2014</a>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en">
<p>I hold Juan Mata in just as high regard as I hold José Mourinho. He is proper, proper Chelsea.</p>
— Chelsea Rumours (@ChelseaRumours) <a href="https://twitter.com/ChelseaRumours/statuses/425764170571972608">January 21, 2014</a>
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<p>Got that? Juan Mata is proper, proper, proper, proper, proper, proper Chelsea. He might as well be singing "No Surrender" on the Kings Road on the way to his plastering job. Proper, proper, proper Chelsea.</p>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en">
<p>As I’ve seen some people mention on here - will Oscar and Hazard stay as loyal as Mata? Doubt it.</p>
— Chelsea Rumours (@ChelseaRumours) <a href="https://twitter.com/ChelseaRumours/statuses/425764379708379136">January 21, 2014</a>
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Wait, what? Who's been saying that?</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en">
<p>Guys like Oscar and Hazard in the long term will not be as loyal as Mata. Can bet on that.</p>
— Anoop. (@ArmChairCriticc) <a href="https://twitter.com/ArmChairCriticc/statuses/426353136983232512">January 23, 2014</a>
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Seriously? He's been there TWO AND A HALF YEARS. And he left the first time he was second choice in the team. And he asked to join United! Fair enough there was a World Cup, but good god, he's hardly Matt le Tissier, is he? (In so many ways.)</p>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en">
<p><a href="https://twitter.com/chelseafc">@chelseafc</a> if you think Hazard, Oscar will stay loyal, im sorry, Mata is the defination of loyalty.</p>
— nicky (@nickycfc) <a href="https://twitter.com/nickycfc/statuses/426358286250557440">January 23, 2014</a>
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<script src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
loyalty,ˈlɔɪəlti/</p>
<p>noun</p>
<p>1.<br> the quality of being loyal.<br> "his extreme loyalty to the Crown"</p>
<p>2.</p>
<p>A Spanish player who moves to England at the behest of an oil-rich club to play for said club for two and a bit years before moving on after throwing a strop once out of a team and asking to join their biggest rivals.</p>
<p>Oh, and lastly, we promised swears, so here they are. Someone see if this man is OK. Get his belt and laces.</p>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en">
<p>Listen you set of cunts <a href="https://twitter.com/chelseafc">@chelseafc</a>, how hard would it be for someone to come out and confirm or deny the Mata rumours? Fuck the fans eh?</p>
— Immigrant Ian (@CFC_Illegal_Dan) <a href="https://twitter.com/CFC_Illegal_Dan/statuses/426662062644027392">January 24, 2014</a>
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And...</p>
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<p><a href="https://twitter.com/Seb22">@Seb22</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/chelseafc">@chelseafc</a> Fuck off you cunt. If you don't care that's up to you. I do. If you only blame him for all this you can get fucked.</p>
— Immigrant Ian (@CFC_Illegal_Dan) <a href="https://twitter.com/CFC_Illegal_Dan/statuses/426666000801873920">January 24, 2014</a>
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Lovely.</p>
https://thebusbybabe.sbnation.com/2014/1/24/5340962/juan-mata-manchester-united-transfer-chelsea-reaction-twitterCallum Hamilton2014-01-24T12:43:17+00:002014-01-24T12:43:17+00:00Mourinho confirms Mata to move to United
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<figcaption>Julian Finney</figcaption>
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<p>Chelsea boss José Mourinho has confirmed that Juan Mata has travelled to Manchester United to have a medical ahead of a move.</p> <p>José Mourinho has confirmed that <span>Juan Mata</span> will move from <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://weaintgotnohistory.sbnation.com/">Chelsea</a> to <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://thebusbybabe.sbnation.com/">Manchester United</a> as the Spanish playmaker looks to complete a transfer between the two clubs.</p>
<p>While the move has been taking longer than anticipated, it was still expected to go through and it looks likely that Mata will be confirmed as a United player today at some point.</p>
<p>The Spaniard is believed to currently be having his medical, so the deal will likely be announced later.</p>
<p>Mourinho said: "Sooner rather than later things will be finalised. He is a fantastic player. In spite of not playing much for us, I still think he could be important for us."</p>
<p>He certainly will be if he helps us take points off <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://theshortfuse.sbnation.com/">Arsenal</a>, <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://liverpooloffside.sbnation.com/">Liverpool</a> and <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://bitterandblue.sbnation.com/">Manchester City</a>. But more importantly, we can rest pretty safely in knowing that this one is pretty much a done deal. It seems there's no going back now. A new record is set.</p>
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https://thebusbybabe.sbnation.com/2014/1/24/5340936/manchester-united-transfer-news-rumours-juan-mata-chelseaCallum Hamilton