Valencia have made a late move to trump Barcelona for Real Madrid's exciting young playmaker Juan Mata. Mata's father, Juan Senior, has been locked in talks with Barca officials over the last few days about a Bosman move to the Nou Camp at the end of this season.

However, Los Che have stepped in to table a six-year pro contract with their senior team and also assuring Mata they will attempt to buy him during this month's winter market and register him for the Champions League.

After hearing such promising info about Mata, why can't the damn board sign him? I've heard plenty of fellow Madridistas say they would rather have Mata than Franck Ribery, so he has to be something special. This young kid is being chased by Valencia, and they want to register him for the Champions League immediately!

Here's a bit more about him. It might actually show how talented he is. This season he was in the C squad and Michel, the Real Madrid reserve team coach, promoted him to the Castilla. With what Valencia are offering, I don't think we will see him any more.