‘Nobody sells Mata for football reasons’ insists Chelsea boss

Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho insists the decision to sell Juan Mata to Manchester United was driven by finances and not football – and says he feels sorry that the Spaniard’s Blues career ended unhappily.

The crowd favourite was sold for £37.1m after a frustrating half a season sat on the bench or playing out of position for Mourinho’s side.

“We sold because economically it is very, very good,” Mourinho said.

“Even more important than the financial situation was the fact that the player was not happy with this situation, and that we have to respect.

“I feel sorry I did not make him happy but football is football and I built a team around Oscar in that position – and on the sides [wings] the other people are doing very well.

“Juan is not comfortable on the sides. He tried very hard and did quite well in some matches playing from the right.

“But it is not his natural habitat so when a club like Manchester United comes in, and for sure told him he would play in his favourite position and he wants to go, then he goes.”

Mourinho was also adamant that Mata’s exit was not simply his decision.

“I didn’t sell, we did – the club did,” he said.

“In this club we have no individual decisions. The only person that can have an individual decision is the boss.

“Mr Abramovich can do what he wants. But he doesn’t. He respects the people that work here and asks opinions and we share opinions.

“I am a football man purely. We have people in the scouting area and the economical area and nobody in the club sells Mata for football reasons, because if it is for football reasons then we want to keep him.”

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