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Barcelona Remain Keen on Juan Mata Deal But Man Utd Star Will Have to Take Summer Pay Cut

Manchester United midfielder Juan Mata will be forced to take a pay cut on his £170,000 a week wages if he wants to join Barcelona on a free transfer at the end of the season.

The former Spain international is running into the final few weeks of his contract at Old Trafford and is expected to be allowed to leave with little resistance from United's top brass this summer, with recently crowned La Liga champions Barcelona among the teams interested in his signature.

But The Sun insists that the Catalan giants are not prepared to match Mata's current £170,000 a week deal, meaning the 31-year-old will have to take a major pay cut if he wants to return to Spain at the end of the season.