MANCHESTER, England -- Manchester United smashed the clubs transfer record to sign Juan Mata from Chelsea for 37. Mike Gartner Jersey .1 million pounds ($61.2 million) on Saturday, giving the beleaguered English Premier League champions a major lift. The Spain midfielder was deemed surplus to requirements at Chelsea after losing his place in the team since Jose Mourinhos return as manager last summer. The move, which is the most high-profile yet in Europes January transfer window, will guarantee Mata is back playing regular football ahead of the World Cup in Brazil. It is also a statement of intent from United amid a tough period for new manager David Moyes, whose team is seventh in the Premier League and struggling to qualify for the lucrative Champions League. "United is the perfect place for me and I am excited at the chance I have to be part of the next phase in the clubs history," said the 25-year-old Mata, who was flown to Manchester by helicopter on Saturday so he could undergo his medical examination and agree on personal terms. "Chelsea is a top club and I have many friends there but you cannot turn down the chance to join Manchester United." Mata was Chelseas player of the year for the last two seasons but has spent most of the 2013-14 campaign on the substitutes bench, with Mourinho deciding to make Brazil international Oscar his No. 1 playmaker. Mourinho granted Matas request to leave Stamford Bridge in light of Uniteds interest and having already found a virtual replacement in Egypt winger Mohamed Salah, who is close to joining from Swiss team Basel. "I and everyone at Chelsea have massive respect for Juan and his big talent, and when he told us of his wish to move on because he wanted to play more, we did not want to deny him this opportunity," Mourinho said. "We want him to be successful in his career and as well as that, this transfer makes huge financial sense to us at Chelsea." Moyes has made a decisive move in the transfer market after being criticized for his sluggish dealings in the off-season, when United missed out on the clubs primary targets and brought in only one player -- Marouane Fellaini -- in the final minutes of deadline day. Fellaini has so far been a major disappointment and is out injured. Matas arrival will create a buzz around Old Trafford and excite fans who have seen United slip 14 points behind leader Arsenal in the Premier League, be eliminated from the FA Cup at the first hurdle and, most recently, lose to Sunderland in the League Cup semifinals. Last season, United romped to the league title by 11 points under Alex Ferguson. Once Moyes gets strikers Robin van Persie and Wayne Rooney back fit, their combination with Mata and talented young winger Adnan Januzaj should ensure they seriously challenge Liverpool, Tottenham and Everton for the fourth and final Champions League spot. United is six points behind fourth-place Liverpool. "Juan is one of the finest playmakers in the game today and its a real pleasure to have secured his signature," Moyes said. Moyes confirmed Mata will make his debut in the league game against Cardiff at Old Trafford on Tuesday, although he may take time to return to top form after being underused at Chelsea in recent months. Mata played 135 times for Chelsea following his move from Spanish team Valencia in 2011. "I have enjoyed some very happy years at Chelsea," Mata said, "but the time has come for a new challenge." Matas transfer fee eclipses the figure United spent on Dimitar Berbatov, who joined for 30.7 million pounds from Tottenham in 2008. Esa Lindell Jersey . About seven hours before facing Washington in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference second round series, team officials said the oft-injured Bynum would miss the rest of the playoffs and would not even be with the team for the rest of the post-season. Marc Methot Jersey . Jovanovski, the 2012 champ seeded fifth, will meet surprise Japanese qualifier Misa Eguchi on Friday. Eguchi, ranked 183rd, qualified for her first WTA main draw this week, then beat No. http://www.thedallasstarshockey.com/bobby-smith-hockey-jersey/ . The Italian side scored twice in a four-minute span in the second half to defeat former stars from S.GREEN BAY, Wis. - Seattles Richard Sherman may have more to do this time against the Green Bay Packers.The Packers didnt throw in the Pro Bowl cornerbacks direction when the teams met in the season opener in September, a 36-16 win for the Seahawks.The game plan for the rematch on Sunday in the NFC title game is still in flux. Still, the offence seems better equipped this time around to face Sherman and Seattles swarming defence.I dont think anybodys intimidated. I mean hes a great player, tight end Andrew Quarless said this week. Their secondary is definitely a great secondary. Youve got to give them their respect. But you know the whole Legion of Boom — well see.More than four months have passed since that meeting. It is plenty of time for teams to shape their identities and fix flaws.Seattle has only improved defensively since September. But the Packers have had plenty of time, too, to get their act together.Running back Eddie Lacys production has increased dramatically. Jordy Nelson and Randall Cobb are one of the top receiving tandems in the league. The offensive line is providing solid blocking.And Aaron Rodgers has proven that hes better than most healthy quarterbacks in the league, even when slowed by a left calf injury.I dont think its that much different except their guys are coming through, Seattle coach Pete Carroll said. Theyve grown with their season and theyre at the top of their game.It wasnt quite that case on Sept. 4 in Seattle.Packers coach Mike McCarthy watched video of the game on Monday morning. He liked some of what he saw. He pointed to a few pivotal plays during which the Packers could have played better.As far as not throwing at Richard Sherman, we have great respect for their defence, and theyve earned that, and no different in Richards individual case, McCarthy said. But were a no-huddle offence and my thought was, and I told Jordy in the game plan, Just line up on the left side.The thinking was that Sherman would follow Nelson.OK. IIt didnt happen . Martin Hanzal Jersey. . How the game sorted out and things like that, and the ball went where it went was just really how the game was played. There was never a Dont throw right in the game plan, McCarthy added. With that, I think weve played a lot differently since then, I think weve improved in a number of different areas.The Packers have succeeded in the second half of the season in part by going after an opponents strengths.In a 26-21 win over New England in November, Rodgers threw for 368 yards, including a 45-yard catch-and-run to Nelson. He had been covered by top cornerback Darrelle Revis at the time.In the regular-season finale, Green Bay ran for 152 yards in a victory against Detroit, a season-high by a Lions opponent.In the NFC divisional round win over Dallas, the Packers got three touchdown passes from Rodgers — though none went to Nelson or Cobb. Instead, rookie receiver Davante Adams, and tight ends Andrew Quarless and Richard Rodgers, another rookie, had the scores in the big spots.All three games were played at Lambeau Field. Still, the success will help boost confidence.I mean the more targets A-Rod has, the more I think it opens up the offence, Quarless said. Its about keeping them honest, really respecting everything that we do, and respecting all the playmakers on the field.Adams had the biggest impact of the lesser-known Packers with seven catches for 117 yards. The production was somewhat of a surprise given Adams had a combined four catches in his previous four games combined.As it turns out, Adams doesnt mind talking trash either, a quality that might come in handy if Sherman throws some verbal jabs.I like to egg it on. If you want to talk, I feel like you can use that to your advantage because guys get to talking and you make a play on them and it kind of shuts them down, Adams said.___AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and www.twitter.com/AP_NFL___AP Sports Writer Tim Booth in Seattle contributed to this report. Jerseys From China Cheap NFL Jerseys Wholesale Wholesale Jerseys Wholesale Jerseys 2018 Jerseys Wholesale NFL Jerseys Cheap NFL Jerseys Wholesale ' ' '