Chelsea manager José Mourinho has confirmed the club have given Juan Mata permission to undergo a medical ahead of his £37 million transfer to Manchester United.
Mata was said to be frustrated Chelsea had not signed off the transfer after United tabled a bid on Wednesday, however Mourinho revealed he is now all but a United player.
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"Things are going in a good direction, and we allow Juan to travel and to have the medical with United," Mourinho said at his press conference.
Mourinho added Mata had become "disappointed" and "frustrated" at his lack of playing time this season. The 25-year-old has made 17 appearances for Chelsea, 11 of which have been starts.
Mata vs United
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Chelsea's Spanish midfielder Juan Mata (L) celebrates after scoring during the English Premier League football match between Manchester United and Chelsea at Old Trafford in Manchester, north-west England on May 5, 2013. AFP PHOTO/ANDREW YATES RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or “live” services. Online in-match use limited to 45 images, no video emulation. No use in betting, games or single club/league/player publications. (Photo credit should read ANDREW YATES/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
FBL-ENG-PR-MAN UTD-CHELSEA(02 of26)
Chelsea's Spanish midfielder Juan Mata (C) celebrates with Chelsea's Spanish defender César Azpilicueta (R) and Chelsea's Brazilian midfielder Oscar (L) after scoring during the English Premier League football match between Manchester United and Chelsea at Old Trafford in Manchester, north-west England on May 5, 2013. AFP PHOTO/ANDREW YATES RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or “live” services. Online in-match use limited to 45 images, no video emulation. No use in betting, games or single club/league/player publications. (Photo credit should read ANDREW YATES/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Manchester United v Chelsea - Premier League(03 of26)
MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - MAY 05: Juan Mata of Chelsea scores the winning goal during the Barclays Premier League match between Manchester United and Chelsea at Old Trafford on May 5, 2013 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Alex Livesey/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
FBL-ENG-PR-MAN UTD-CHELSEA(04 of26)
Chelsea's Spanish midfielder Juan Mata (R) celebrates after scoring during the English Premier League football match between Manchester United and Chelsea at Old Trafford in Manchester, north-west England on May 5, 2013. AFP PHOTO/ANDREW YATES RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or “live” services. Online in-match use limited to 45 images, no video emulation. No use in betting, games or single club/league/player publications. (Photo credit should read ANDREW YATES/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Manchester United v Chelsea - Premier League(05 of26)
MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - MAY 05: Juan Mata of Chelsea scores the winning goal during the Barclays Premier League match between Manchester United and Chelsea at Old Trafford on May 5, 2013 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Alex Livesey/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Manchester United v Chelsea - Premier League(06 of26)
MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - MAY 05: Juan Mata of Chelsea celebrates after scoring the winning goal during the Barclays Premier League match between Manchester United and Chelsea at Old Trafford on May 5, 2013 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Alex Livesey/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Manchester United v Chelsea - Premier League(07 of26)
MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - MAY 05: Juan Mata of Chelsea celebrates after scoring the winning goal during the Barclays Premier League match between Manchester United and Chelsea at Old Trafford on May 5, 2013 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Alex Livesey/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Manchester United v Chelsea - Premier League(08 of26)
MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - MAY 05: Juan Mata of Chelsea celebrates after scoring the winning goal during the Barclays Premier League match between Manchester United and Chelsea at Old Trafford on May 5, 2013 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Alex Livesey/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Chelsea v Manchester United - FA Cup Sixth Round Replay(09 of26)
LONDON, ENGLAND - APRIL 01: Antonio Valencia of Manchester United is tackled by Juan Mata of Chelsea during the FA Cup with Budweiser Sixth Round Replay match between Chelsea and Manchester United at Stamford Bridge on April 1, 2013 in London, England. (Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Manchester United v Chelsea - FA Cup Sixth Round(10 of26)
MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - MARCH 10: Juan Mata of Chelsea competes with Patrice Evra of Manchester United during the FA Cup sponsored by Budweiser Sixth Round match between Manchester United and Chelsea at Old Trafford on March 10, 2013 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Alex Livesey/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
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Manchester United's French defender Patrice Evra (L) vies with Chelsea's Spanish midfielder Juan Mata (R) during the English FA Cup quarter-final football match between Manchester United and Chelsea at Old Trafford, Manchester, northwest England on March 10, 2013. AFP PHOTO / ANDREW YATESRESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or “live” services. Online in-match use limited to 45 images, no video emulation. No use in betting, games or single club/league/player publications. (Photo credit should read ANDREW YATES/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Manchester United v Chelsea - FA Cup Sixth Round(12 of26)
MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - MARCH 10: Juan Mata of Chelsea competes with Patrice Evra of Manchester United during the FA Cup sponsored by Budweiser Sixth Round match between Manchester United and Chelsea at Old Trafford on March 10, 2013 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Alex Livesey/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Manchester United v Chelsea - FA Cup Sixth Round(13 of26)
MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - MARCH 10: Juan Mata of Chelsea competes with Patrice Evra of Manchester United during the FA Cup sponsored by Budweiser Sixth Round match between Manchester United and Chelsea at Old Trafford on March 10, 2013 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Alex Livesey/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Chelsea v Manchester United - Capital One Cup Fourth Round(14 of26)
LONDON, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 31: Referee Lee Mason watches Juan Mata of Chelsea during the Capital One Cup Fourth Round match between Chelsea and Manchester United at Stamford Bridge on October 31, 2012 in London, England. (Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Chelsea v Manchester United - Premier League(15 of26)
LONDON, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 28: Juan Mata of Chelsea talks to Wayne Rooney of Manchester United as referee Mark Clattenburg looks on during the Barclays Premier League match between Chelsea and Manchester United at Stamford Bridge on October 28, 2012 in London, England. (Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Chelsea v Manchester United - Premier League(16 of26)
LONDON, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 28: Juan Mata of Chelsea is closed down by David De Gea of Manchester United during the Barclays Premier League match between Chelsea and Manchester United at Stamford Bridge on October 28, 2012 in London, England. (Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Chelsea v Manchester United - Premier League(17 of26)
LONDON, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 28: David De Gea of Manchester United fails to stop a free kick by Juan Mata of Chelsea during the Barclays Premier League match between Chelsea and Manchester United at Stamford Bridge on October 28, 2012 in London, England. (Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
FBL-ENG-PR-CHELSEA-MAN UTD(18 of26)
Chelsea's Spanish midfielder Juan Mata (L) celebrates scoring their first goal during the English Premier League football match between Chelsea and Manchester United at Stamford Bridge in London, on October 28, 2012. AFP PHOTO/IAN KINGTONRESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or “live” services. Online in-match use limited to 45 images, no video emulation. No use in betting, games or single club/league/player publications. (Photo credit should read IAN KINGTON/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
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Manchester United's Spanish goalkeeper David De Gea (L) cannot reach Juan Mata's goal-bound shot during the English Premier League football match between Chelsea and Manchester United at Stamford Bridge in London, on October 28, 2012. AFP PHOTO/IAN KINGTONRESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or “live” services. Online in-match use limited to 45 images, no video emulation. No use in betting, games or single club/league/player publications. (Photo credit should read IAN KINGTON/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Chelsea v Manchester United - Premier League(20 of26)
LONDON, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 05: Juan Mata of Chelsea (R) celebrates with team mate Fernando Torres as he scores their second goal goal during the Barclays Premier League match between Chelsea and Manchester United at Stamford Bridge on February 5, 2012 in London, England. (Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Chelsea v Manchester United - Premier League(21 of26)
LONDON, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 05: Ryan Giggs of Manchester United beats Juan Mata of Chelsea during the Barclays Premier League match between Chelsea and Manchester United at Stamford Bridge on February 5, 2012 in London, England. (Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Chelsea v Manchester United - Premier League(22 of26)
LONDON, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 05: Rio Ferdinand of Manchester United challenges Juan Mata of Chelsea during the Barclays Premier League match between Chelsea and Manchester United at Stamford Bridge on February 5, 2012 in London, England. (Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Chelsea v Manchester United - Premier League(23 of26)
LONDON, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 05: Ryan Giggs of Manchester United beats Juan Mata of Chelsea during the Barclays Premier League match between Chelsea and Manchester United at Stamford Bridge on February 5, 2012 in London, England. (Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Chelsea's Spanish player Juan Mata (R) s(24 of26)
Chelsea's Spanish player Juan Mata (R) scores a goal during an English Premier League football match against Manchester United at Stamford Bridge in London on February 5, 2012. AFP PHOTO / IAN KINGTONRESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorised audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or “live†services. Online in-match use limited to 45 images, no video emulation. No use in betting, games or single club/league/player publications. (Photo credit should read IAN KINGTON/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Chelsea's Spanish player Juan Mata (C) s(25 of26)
Chelsea's Spanish player Juan Mata (C) scores a goal during an English Premier League football match against Stamford Bridge in London, on February 5, 2012. AFP PHOTO/IAN KINGTONRESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorised audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or “live†services. Online in-match use limited to 45 images, no video emulation. No use in betting, games or single club/league/player publications. (Photo credit should read IAN KINGTON/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Chelsea's Spanish player Juan Mata (R) c(26 of26)
Chelsea's Spanish player Juan Mata (R) celebrates scoring a goal during an English Premier League football match against Manchester United at Stamford Bridge in London on February 5, 2012. AFP PHOTO/IAN KINGTONRESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorised audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or “live†services. Online in-match use limited to 45 images, no video emulation. No use in betting, games or single club/league/player publications. (Photo credit should read IAN KINGTON/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
"It was a surprise for us Juan was leaving, we were not prepared to make a bid [for Mohamed Salah] so everything happened very fast."
"I asked him when the offer came: 'Are you really happy to go?' He said 'I'm really happy to go.' If he cannot be happy here, even if it's a big club and a rival, you cannot stop people to be happy."
"The player deserves respect and deserves to be happy and play where he wants. We consider the offer to be right.
"When he comes back to Stamford Bridge with a Man United shirt on, for sure we will show how much we respect him."
Mourinho also seemed to suggest Chelsea's hopes of signing Wayne Rooney were fading. The Blues had two bids rejected for the England international in the summer and the Portuguese insisted Mata's desire to join United was never going to be influenced by Chelsea's interest in Rooney.
"If we say to Juan, you can't go to United because they won't sell us Rooney, I don't think that's fair to Juan," he said.