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While perusing through both Tottenham Hotspur-specific and general English Premier League websites and blogs today, I'm seeing a lot more about Juan Mata. The Spanish international who plays his club football for Valencia is an excellent player, and he is a bit underpaid at Valencia. Valencia is a team that has great support and some very good players, but due to some poor business decisions in the lead-up to the recession that started in 2008, they do not have a lot of money. So, "Valencia are willing to let Mata leave," or so says every damn site on the internet.
There are, however, quite a few problems with Mata potentially moving to Spurs. I am going to list them right now.
- Valencia is a better team than Tottenham, or at least has a better chance at finishing in a Champions League place in their league in the 2011-12 season than Spurs do.
- Valencia are in the Champions League.
- Spurs won't pay anyone - including Gareth Bale and Luka Modric - £100k per week or more. Spurs may have more money than Valencia, but they have not proven that they are willing to pay significantly higher wages.
- Spurs have Gareth Bale and Rafael van der Vaart at the left midfield and attacking midfield positions, meaning that he would likely be second choice at either of his best positions, despite his top-shelf quality. This makes him an epic waste of money.
I have reached a conclusion based on those facts, and that conclusion can be found after the jump.
This is what I think of everyone perpetuating the Mata rumors.