Juan Mata 'Offered' Mega-Money Deal in Saudi Arabia

Manchester United midfielder Juan Mata has reportedly been offered a contract worth close to £12m per year, should he decide to join an unnamed Saudi Arabian club in the weeks ahead.

Mata is out of favour under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, and is yet to feature in the Premier League this season.

He hasn't started a league game for United since February. It speaks to how good United's September was, then, that Mata was voted their player of the month, despite failing to register a Premier League minute.

It had begun to seem as if his chances of leaving Old Trafford before January had evaporated with the closure of the European transfer window, but according to Ian McGarry on the Transfer Window Podcast, he may be given one last reprieve. The 32-year-old reportedly has an offer on the table from an unnamed Saudi Arabian club, where the transfer deadline isn't until 12 November.

McGarry said: "Juan Mata has been offered a very, very lucrative deal to move from Manchester to Saudi Arabia.

"It's our understanding that Mata has an offer worth around $15million (£11.5m) net per year to go and play in the Saudi Arabian league.

"It's not clear at this moment in time that Manchester United have entered negotiations, we can't disclose the name of the club at this moment in time.

"But we are certain that the offer is there. His father, who is his agent, is confident that Manchester United would release Mata on freedom of contract after he had his contract extended by the optional year in his current deal over the summer."

Former Spain midfielder Mata was United's record signing when he arrived from Chelsea in 2014, and has made 257 appearances since, scoring or assisting more than 100 goals. His chances for now look limited to the domestic cups, however, and at 32, it seems likely he will be keen on a move away if it means regular first-team football.