Man Utd star Mata needs to take pay cut to seal his summer Barcelona swoop

JUAN MATA may have to take a pay cut to land a dream move to Barcelona.

The midfielder’s Manchester United contract runs out at the end of the season.

Barcelona are among the interested clubs and Mata, 31, would love the chance of a move to the Catalan giants.

Nou Camp chiefs would offer less than the £170,000-a-week Mata earns at United – although they could top that up with a significant signing-on fee and decent bonuses.

Mata, who cost £37.1million from Chelsea in 2011, is settled in Manchester where he also owns a restaurant.

He marked his United recall with a goal in Sunday’s 1-1 draw with Chelsea – the club’s first from open play in over eight hours of football.

SunSport told you that United stars feel English players have been given special treatment over contracts at Old Trafford this season.

Three Lions defenders Ashley Young, Chris Smalling, Phil Jones and Luke Shaw have ALL agreed fresh terms during the campaign.

Meanwhile, contract talks with David de Gea have been dragging on for months.

Ander Herrera is set to join Paris Saint-Germain this summer and Mata can leave for free at the end of the current season.

And Atletico Madrid could reportedly challenge Barca in the race for the United ace.

Mata has played in just nine Premier League games since Ole Gunnar Solskjaer took over at Old Trafford in December.