Quote Originally Posted by Marc Overmars View Post
It was well documented that Mata was available for around 20m because of the release clause he had, however for one reason or another we never stumped up the cash in time. Then his contract was renewed, the release clause trebled and we were priced out.

I think we were too wrapped up in the Cesc and Nasri sagas. If we had just told them to fuck off earlier in the window we might have landed Mata.

Oh well.
Didn't Chelsea buy him for £18m though?