Mourinho allows Mata to travel to Manchester

Jose Mourinho insisted Juan Mata leaves Chelsea with his and the club’s blessing as the Spain playmaker’s move to Manchester United appeared close to a conclusion.

Mourinho confirmed United have broken their transfer record – a £30.75m deal for Dimitar Berbatov in 2008 – to recruit the 25-year-old, who was Chelsea’s player of the year in each of the last two seasons.