A graduate ofReal Madrid's youth academy, Mata played forReal Madrid Castilla in 2006–07, before joiningValencia in the summer of 2007. He became an integral part of the club's midfield, making 174 appearances over the course of four seasons and winning theCopa del Rey. In 2011, Mata signed for English clubChelsea for a fee believed to be in the region of €28 million and established himself as the team's focal player.[3] In his first two seasons, he won theUEFA Champions League, theFA Cup, and theUEFA Europa League.
Despite Mata's stature at the club, he fell out of favour at Chelsea under newly appointed managerJosé Mourinho and was sold toManchester United in January 2014, for a fee of £37.1 million. He made 285 appearances over nine seasons at United, winning the Europa League and FA Cup again as well as theEFL Cup andFA Community Shield. He joined Galatasaray after his contract with United expired in the summer of 2022, where he won the firstleague title of his career.
Mata debuted forSpain in 2009 and played at the2009 FIFA Confederations Cup, his first senior tournament. In September 2009, Mata scored his first goal for the senior team, againstEstonia, securing the nation a place at the2010 FIFA World Cup, and was part of Spain's World Cup-winning squad. In 2011, he resumed playing in the under-21 side, helping Spain win the2011 UEFA European Under-21 Championship in Denmark. He won theGolden Player award and was part of the Team of the Tournament. Mata returned to the senior squad forUEFA Euro 2012 and, after coming on as a substitute, scored Spain's fourth goal inthe final as Spain defeatedItaly 4–0 to retain their title as champions of Europe.
Mata was born inBurgos, Castile and León.[4] He inherited his name from his father,Juan Manuel Mata Rodríguez, who was also a footballer, playing as aforward for nearbyBurgos CF in the 1980s and early 1990s. Mata was raised in his father's home town ofOviedo,Asturias. His father later acted as Mata's agent, becomingFIFA-registered in the process.[5][6] In his spare time, Mata enjoystable tennis, a sport he played as a child.[7]
Mata started his football career atReal Oviedo in 2000,[8] where his father spent part of his career, before joining Real Madrid's youth academy,La Fábrica, in 2003 at the age of 15.[9] After appearing for theirCadete A team, he then swiftly progressed through the junior teams,Juvenil C and finallyJuvenil A. In his last campaign (2005–06), he scored two goals in the league and three more in theCopa de Campeones, including the winner in the final againstReal Valladolid, adding another three in theCopa del Rey Juvenil.
Switching toReal Madrid Castilla in2006–07, Mata was given the number 34 shirt in the first team, while wearing number 28 in Castilla. In spite of Castilla's finalSegunda División relegation, he finished the season as the side's second best scorer with nine, behindstrikerÁlvaro Negredo, who registered 18.
Mata had a release clause at Real Madrid during his last season at the club, and eventually agreed to sign for fellowLa Liga sideValencia CF in March 2007, with the contract starting on 30 June 2007.[10]
Benefitting from constant injuries toVicente and the ostracism to which then-managerRonald Koeman condemnedMiguel Ángel Angulo, Mata gradually carved a niche in Valencia's first eleven. On 20 March 2008, he scored twice in theCopa del Reysemi-final match againstFC Barcelona to help Valencia reachthe final againstGetafe CF[11] where, on 16 April, he scored the opener in a 3–1 win.[12] During that first season, he was voted the team'sBest Young Player by fans and players alike.
Mata playing for Valencia in 2010
In the2008Spanish SuperCup, Mata scored against his former club Real Madrid in a 3–2 first leg win, but Valencia lost 5–6 on aggregate after a 2–4 away loss in the second game. He started2008–09 well, scoring in the opener againstRCD Mallorca in a 3–0 win.[13] He also scored the only goal of the game againstCA Osasuna, latching on to a long ball fromDavid Villa.[14]
On 25 September 2008, Mata proved to be growing in efficiency, as he set up two of his teammate's goals in a 2–0 away win overMálaga CF.[15] Three days later, he put in a superb performance againstDeportivo de La Coruña, scoring one and creating the other three, in a 4–2 home victory.[16]
Towards the end of the campaign, Mata managed to score two very important late goals for Valencia: the first, the 3–2 winner atSporting de Gijón,[17] and the second apenalty againstSevilla FC at home, to put Valencia 2–1 up (specialist Villa had already been replaced due to injury) in an eventual 3–1 success.[18] He achieved impressive stats during the season, finishing with 11 successful strikes and 13assists, behind just Barcelona'sXavi as the league's best.
In the following two seasons, Mata was an ever present offensive figure for Valencia, scoring 17 goals in 68 league games combined, with the club achieving back-to-back third-league places. On 10 April 2011, he scored two in a 5–0 home win againstValencian neighboursVillarreal CF.[19][20] On 9 May, England-based Spanish journalistGuillem Balagué reported interest from severalPremier League clubs.[21]
On 21 August 2011, Valencia announced they had agreed a £23.5 million fee for the transfer of Mata toPremier League clubChelsea, subject to a medical.[22][23][24] On 24 August 2011, Mata signed a five-year deal with Chelsea.[25] He revealed that compatriotFernando Torres helped persuade him to move toStamford Bridge, saying "Fernando got me excited about the thought of coming here. He said it would be good for me here, and that me and him together could be good. I also talked to my family and friends about it as well."[26]
On 26 August 2011,Yossi Benayoun offered Mata his number 10 shirt, saying "I decided to give Mata the number 10 – his favourite. For me, it's just a number, not my lucky 15." (Florent Malouda wore number 15 for Chelsea at the time.) Mata wore number 10 for Valencia and for Spain's under-21s in the summer, and expressed his gratitude to Benayoun. "It is a very important number to me so I'm pleased to be wearing it. I want to thank Yossi," he said.[27] Mata followed on from Chelsea playersJoe Cole,Mark Hughes,Ian Hutchinson, andTerry Venables in adopting the number 10 shirt.[28]
Mata made his debut for Chelsea againstNorwich City on 27 August 2011, where he came on as a 68th-minute substitute forFlorent Malouda and scored the club's third goal in the 11th minute of stoppage time. Chelsea went on to win the match 3–1.[29] He started his first game for his new club in their next fixture on 10 September away toSunderland, helping Chelsea secure a 1–2 win.[30] On 14 September, Mata made hisUEFA Champions League debut for Chelsea and scored in stoppage time to help his side defeatBayer Leverkusen 2–0.[31]
On 29 October 2011, Mata assisted Chelsea's 6,000th league goal with an in-swinging cross which was headed in byFrank Lampard. In the same game, Mata scored with a spectacular 25-yard strike in a 3–5 home defeat to London rivalsArsenal.[32] On 26 November, Mata set up the first two goals which were scored byJohn Terry andDaniel Sturridge and also scored the third goal himself in a 3–0 win againstWolverhampton Wanderers.[33] He was awarded the Man of the Match in a 0–3 away win atSt James' Park for his performance againstNewcastle United.[34]
On 6 December 2011, during Chelsea's decisive Champions League match against former clubValencia CF, Mata created two assists for both ofDidier Drogba goals. The game ended in a 3–0 win, which resulted in Chelsea qualifying first from their group.[35] On Boxing Day, Mata scored his side's only goal in a 1–1 draw atStamford Bridge againstFulham.[36] Mata scored Chelsea's first goal of theirFA Cup campaign in a 4–0 win overPortsmouth at Stamford Bridge.
In an FA Cup fourth round tie withQueens Park Rangers atLoftus Road, Mata scored his side's only goal from the penalty spot in a 0–1 victory. On 5 February 2012, Mata scored againstManchester United in a 3–3 draw.[37] On 21 February, Mata scored his side's only goal in their 1–3 defeat away atNapoli in the first leg of the Champions League round of 16.[38]
After the appointment ofRoberto Di Matteo as interim first-team coach, Mata was played as a central attacking midfielder rather than being played on the left wing. Mata scored and had a penalty saved byColin Doyle in the FA Cup fifth round replay againstBirmingham City atSt Andrew's, which Chelsea won 2–0, helping them into the quarter-finals of theFA Cup. He continued his trait of scoring in each round; this run, however, ended againstLeicester City in the quarter-final, which Chelsea nonetheless won 5–2. On 7 April, Mata scored his 11th goal of the season againstWigan Athletic, giving the Blues a 2–1 victory over the Latics and kept alive Chelsea's fight for a Champions League spot.[citation needed]
On 15 April, in Chelsea's 5–1 win againstTottenham Hotspur in the FA Cup semi-final atWembley Stadium, Mata scored a controversial goal and assistedRamires andFlorent Malouda for their goals, adding to his statistics in the2011–12 FA Cup with four goals and three assists. Mata started in both legs of Chelsea's Champions League semi-final clash with reigning championsFC Barcelona, helping his side to an unexpected 3–2 win on aggregate.[39][40] and set up afinal clash withBayern Munich on 19 May.[41]
Mata provided two assists to fellow Spaniard Fernando Torres in the 6–1 thrashing ofWest London rivals Queens Park Rangers on 29 April, bringing his tally to 13 Premier League assists on the season.[42] Mata assisted the first goal in theFA Cup final, whichRamires scored, as Chelsea beatLiverpool 2–1 at Wembley,[43] with Mata picking up the Man of the Match award.[44] On 10 May, Mata was rewarded for his consistent form throughout his first Chelsea season by the fans voting him the club's Player of the Year, following on from Chelsea legends such asDennis Wise andGianfranco Zola, whom he had been compared to on various occasions.[45]
In the2012 UEFA Champions League final against Bayern Munich on 19 May, Mata assisted Didier Drogba's headed equaliser from a corner kick in the 88th minute. The match went on to extra time and penalties, with Mata taking Chelsea's first, which Bayern goalkeeperManuel Neuer saved. Chelsea, however, went on to win 4–3 in the penalty-shootout, lifting their first Champions League title.[46] Mata finished his first season at Stamford Bridge with 573 passes, creating 66 chances and completing 61 successful crosses, which all contributed to Chelsea's cup-double winning season.[47] He finished the Premier League season with 14 assists – second highest in the league afterManchester City'sDavid Silva – and six goals.[48]
Mata missed all of Chelsea's pre-season games as he was playing forSpain at the2012 Summer Olympics in London, but he returned to play in the2012 FA Community Shield against Manchester City and was substituted after 74 minutes for Daniel Sturridge. Mata assisted his first goal of the season on 22 September 2012 againstStoke City, providing a great flick toAshley Cole, which turned out to be the winning goal as Chelsea won 1–0.[49] He scored his first goal of the season in the2012–13 Football League Cup third round against Wolverhampton Wanderers, with the game finishing 6–0 to Chelsea.[50] Four days later, he scored his firstPremier League goal of the season, assistingFernando Torres for the opener and then scoring directly from a free-kick in a 2–1 away win against Arsenal at theEmirates Stadium.[51]
Mata in action for Chelsea in 2012
Mata scored Chelsea's first and third goal in theChampions League as Chelsea beatNordsjælland 0–4 away inFarum, Denmark.[52] He later provided two assists in Chelsea's 4–1 rout ofNorwich City, sendingEden Hazard through on goal and later flicking a delightful ball for defenderBranislav Ivanović to volley in.[53] In aLondon Derby game against Tottenham Hotspur atWhite Hart Lane on 20 October, Mata scored twice and provided an assist for Daniel Sturridge in a 2–4 victory for Chelsea, where he also earned Man of the Match honours.[54] He next scored in a Premier League match with a beautiful free kick againstManchester United. Chelsea, however, lost the match 3–2 after a late controversial goal fromJavier Hernández. Mata went on to win thePremier League Player of the Month award for October after scoring three league goals.[55]
After managerRoberto Di Matteo was sacked following a 3–0 defeat toJuventus in the Champions League, Mata scored the first goal of new, interim managerRafael Benítez's reign at Chelsea againstWest Ham United, although Chelsea suffered a 3–1 defeat in this game.[56] He scored again in Chelsea's win over Nordsjælland in a Champions League game, but Chelsea still failed to advance to the knockouts despite a 6–1 win at home.[57] He added to his tally of goals and his collection of fine performance atSunderland in a 1–3 Chelsea win.[58] After this game, Chelsea traveled to Japan for the2012 FIFA Club World Cup. Here, too, Mata continued his top form by scoring Chelsea's first goal in the tournament againstMonterrey in the semi-final, helping them on their course to the final with a 1–3 victory. The tournament, however, ended in disappointment as Chelsea were beaten 1–0 by Brazilian clubCorinthians in thefinal.[59] The team put the defeat behind them by completing an 8–0 routing ofAston Villa, a game in which though Mata did not score a goal, but nevertheless played a very influential part.[60]
On 22 December 2012, Mata signed a contract extension with Chelsea which tied him up with the club until 2018.[61] On Boxing Day, Chelsea traveled toCarrow Road to faceNorwich City, where both Manchester United and Arsenal had suffered defeats earlier in the season. Mata scored a brilliant goal in the 38th minute, taking a pass fromOscar into his stride and launching an unstoppable shot into the goal from 25 yards out. The goal turned out to be the winner.[62] Then, on 5 January, Mata provided assists for new acquisitionDemba Ba and Branislav Ivanović to help Chelsea win 1–5 againstSouthampton in the third round of the2012–13 FA Cup.[63] A week later, he forced an own goal fromJonathan Walters by putting in a tight corner and earned a penalty whichFrank Lampard converted. Chelsea went on to win the game 0–4, which was Stoke's first home defeat of the season.[64]Mata scored his eighth goal of the season in the Premier League against Arsenal in a 2–1 home win.[65]
On 3 March 2013, Mata made his 100th appearance in all competitions for Chelsea in a 1–0 win overWest Bromwich Albion at Stamford Bridge.[66] On 14 March, Mata scored an opening goal in Chelsea'sEuropa League 3–1 (3–2) win againstSteaua București.[67] On 19 April, Mata was nominated forPFA Players' Player of the Year in recognition of his contribution to Chelsea's season in all competitions. The PFA's decision was based on his "ability to not only create goals but also score them himself" and saw him nominated alongside teammateEden Hazard.[68] He also scored an 87th-minute winner against Manchester United, a crucial one for Chelsea's Champions League qualification hopes.[69][70]
On 15 May, Mata gave a fine performance in the2013 UEFA Europa League Final against Portugal'sBenfica, assisting Branislav Ivanović's injury time winner from a corner kick.[71] The next day, he was awarded Chelsea's Player's Player of the Year award. He modestly gave the credit to the whole of the squad, saying that, "he felt proud to play for Chelsea," and thanked his teammates. He was also awarded Chelsea's Player of the Year for the second successive season. On winning his second award of the night, he said, "I feel so happy. It's my second season here and winning the trophy two years in a row is amazing for me. I just want to say thank you to all the supporters and all my teammates."[72]
Under new Chelsea managerJosé Mourinho, Mata spent a lot of time on the bench. Mourinho preferredOscar as aplaymaker, and suggested Mata needed to adapt to a wider position and to work harder defensively.[73] On 28 September 2013, Mata came on as a half-time substitute againstTottenham Hotspur to assistJohn Terry to score an equaliser in a 1–1 draw,[74] but his appearances in the first team remained infrequent. On 29 October, he scored his first goal of the season in a 2–0League Cup victory at London rivalsArsenal.[75]
Mata struggled to secure a regular first-team place under Mourinho as he had started just 11 of Chelsea's 22 Premier League matches.[76] Mata scored 33 goals and provided 58 assists in 135 appearances over two and a half seasons with Chelsea.
On 24 January 2014, Mourinho said Chelsea had accepted a transfer offer fromManchester United and he allowed Mata to travel to Manchester to undergo a medical, after the player said he was "really happy to go".[77] Manchester United confirmed later in the day that a transfer fee had been agreed, but that the deal was still contingent on Mata agreeing personal terms and passing a medical.[78] The transfer was completed the following day, with Manchester United paying Chelseaa then club record fee of £37.1 million (€46 million), with Mata signing a contract until the summer of 2018.[79]
Mata during a training session in Washington D.C., 2014
He made his debut againstCardiff City on 28 January and provided one assist in the 2–0 home victory.[80] Mata scored his first goal for United in a 4–1 win overAston Villa on 29 March 2014.[81] He also went on to score two goals againstNewcastle United in a 4–0 away victory,[82] two more againstNorwich City after coming off the bench in another 4–0 win,[83] and the only goal in a 1–1 draw againstSouthampton in the final match of the season.[84]
Mata ended the season having scored six goals for Manchester United, all in the Premier League, since he was cup tied and unable to play in the Champions League and other cup competitions due to his participation in the tournaments with Chelsea earlier in the season.[85]
Mata began the new season in fine form. He scored the only goal inManchester United's second game of the Premier League season, a 1–1 draw againstSunderland atStadium of Light,[86] following it up with a goal againstQueens Park Rangers in a 4–0 thumping, which was alsoLouis van Gaal's first competitive win in charge of United.[87] He was later dropped to the bench for the following two matches, making cameo appearances against Leicester[88] and West Ham,[89] with van Gaal preferring an attacking trinity ofWayne Rooney,Robin van Persie and new signingRadamel Falcao in both games.
Following Rooney's sending off and suspension due to a foul onStewart Downing in the match against West Ham,[90] Mata was reinstated to the starting lineup, and he started the next match againstEverton, a 2–1 win at Old Trafford in which he provided the assist forÁngel Di María's goal.[91] Mata later scored winning goals in home games againstCrystal Palace[92] andStoke City, the former after coming on as a second-half substitute. He made his return to the starting line-ups for the first time, in a 3–0 win overTottenham but was substituted in the 77th minute forAndreas Pereira.[93] On 22 March 2015, Mata scored a brace, including abicycle kick, in a 2–1 victory overLiverpool,[94] a performance which he rated as his best for Manchester United.[95][96] His second goal against Liverpool was also voted as Premier League Goal of the Month in March 2015.[97] His inspired performances led to him being named as Manchester United's Player of the Month for March.[98]
Mata (centre) preparing to take a free kick againstChelsea in 2015.
Mata, just as he had in the previous campaign, had a fine start to the season, getting an assist in the second game of the campaign againstAston Villa,[99] which helped maintain his side's impressive record atVilla Park.[100] September was a month to remember for Mata as he scored two goals and made two assists in just three games, as Manchester United claimed wins againstLiverpool,[101]Southampton,[102] andSunderland.[103] As a result, Mata was crowned the club's Player of The Month.[104]
Mata was madecaptain for the home game againstWatford on 2 March and scored a free kick, which was also the match-winner.[105] On 6 March, in a 1–0 defeat toWest Brom, Mata received his first careerred card after obtaining two yellow cards in the space of three minutes.[106] Mata assisted anAnthony Martial goal againstWest Ham in the final game at theBoleyn Ground; however, United lost 3–2, ending their chances of beatingManchester City for fourth-place.[107]
On 21 May 2016, Mata scored for United in theFA Cup Final againstCrystal Palace, leveling the score at 1–1 just three minutes afterJason Puncheon's 78th-minute goal. Mata was substituted in the 90th minute and replaced byJesse Lingard, who would score the winning goal for United in extra time.[108]
At the beginning of the summer, Mata was reunited with his former Chelsea manager and the person who sold him to Manchester United,José Mourinho.[109] On 7 August 2016, Mata was selected to be on the bench in theFA Community Shield. Mata replacedJesse Lingard in the second half, then was substituted in added time forHenrikh Mkhitaryan.[110] Although there were reports about tensions between the player and manager, after the match, Mata stated that there were no tensions between him and Mourinho.[111] He started in the opening match of the season againstAFC Bournemouth and scored Manchester United's first Premier League goal of the season with a tap-in afterSimon Francis' error.[112] After José Mourinho dropped captainWayne Rooney, Mata served as the stand-in captain in the 0–0 draw againstBurnley on 29 October 2016.[113]
Mata scored his third brace of his Manchester United career, scoring both goals in a Boxing Day fixture againstLeicester City. However, his efforts were cancelled out by a late equaliser fromHarry Maguire which saw the match finish 2–2.[114] Mata finished the season with three goals in 40 appearances for the Red Devils, as United finished second in the Premier League and lost in the2018 FA Cup Final against his former club,Chelsea.
On 6 October 2018, Mata scored United's first goal in a 3–2 comeback win overNewcastle United.[115] On 7 November, Mata scored the equaliser from a free kick in another late comeback 2–1 win overJuventus in aChampions League group stage fixture.[116] Mata also scored in a 4–1 win overFulham on 8 December,[117] before scoring his final goal of the season in a 1–1 draw against his former clubChelsea on 28 April 2019.[118]
On 19 June 2019, it was confirmed that Mata had signed a new two-year contract with Manchester United, keeping him at the club until June 2021 with the option of a further year. This ended months of speculation over his future.[119][120]
Mata's first goal of the2019–20 season came from the spot in 4–0 win overAZ in United's finalEuropa League group stage game.[121] Mata later scored the only goal in January in anFA Cup third round replay againstWolverhampton Wanderers.[122] Mata then scored in United's final game before the temporary suspension of football due to theCOVID-19 pandemic in a 5–0 victory overLASK.[123]
After scoring againstLuton andBrighton in the third and fourth round of theLeague Cup respectively,[124][125] Mata received praise for his performance in a comeback 4–1 win againstNewcastle United in thePremier League on 17 October 2020. Whilst not scoring he provided an assist forMaguire's equaliser as well as being involved in the build up for all other goals. ManagerOle Gunnar Solskjær described his game as "fantastic" whileSky Sports said United's win was "largely thanks to [Solskjær's] decision to turn to Mata".[126] On 23 May 2021, he scored his only Premier League goal of the season in a 2–1 away win over Wolverhampton Wanderers.[127]
On 2 July 2021, Mata signed a contract extension with Manchester United, keeping him at the club for another year.[128] After having made twelve appearances throughout the whole 2021–22 campaign, the last of which was during the team's lastleague fixture againstCrystal Palace (on 22 May 2022),[129] Mata left the club at the end of the season following his contract expiration.[130] The Spaniard's time at Old Trafford came to an end after eight years, a total amount of 285 appearances and 51 goals and four trophies won with the club.[131][132]
On 8 September 2022, he signed a one-year contract with TurkishSüper Lig teamGalatasaray, with the option to extend the deal by a further year.[133][134] He made his debut on 24 September, in a friendly match against Istanbulspor and showed an impressive performance.[135] He scored his first Süper Lig goal on 28 October after coming on as a second-half substitute againstFatih Karagümrük.[136] Mata won the2022–23 title, with a 4–1 away win againstAnkaragücü on 30 May 2023 securing the title two weeks before the end of the season, the 23rd championship in club history.[137] On 1 July 2023, it was announced that he left Galatasaray and a thank you message was published.[138]
On 3 September 2023,J1 League clubVissel Kobe announced the signing of Mata, handing him the club's number 64 shirt.[139] Mata made just one appearance for the club, coming on as a substitute for the final ten minutes of a 2–0 away loss toSanfrecce Hiroshima on 16 September; however, he still received a medal as Vissel Kobe were crowned J1 League champions thatseason.[140] On 6 January 2024, Mata's contract with Vissel Kobe expired and he left the club.[140]
On 1 February 2007, Spain under-21 coachIñaki Sáez included Mata in his squad for a friendly match againstEngland.[145] On 6 February, at the age of 18 years and 10 months, Mata made his under-21 debut as a substitute forPedro León in the 61st minute of a 2–2 draw atPride Park.[146]
On 9 September 2009, Mata scored his first goal for the senior team in a 3–0 win againstEstonia that guaranteed Spain's qualification for the2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa. He followed this up with the winner againstArmenia on 10 October, scoring a penalty kick in a 2–1 win.[149] Mata was selected in Spain's 23-man squad for the World Cup finals and appeared once for the eventual champions, replacingFernando Torres for the final 20 minutes of the 2–0 group stage win againstHonduras.[150]
Mata returned to the senior squad forUEFA Euro 2012 and, after coming on as a substitute, scored Spain's fourth goal in thefinal as Spain defeatedItaly 4–0 to retain their title as champions of Europe.[152]
Mata was included in Spain's squad for the2012 Olympic football tournament as one of their three designated overage players. Spain, however, failed to score in any of their opening three matches and were eliminated at the group stage.[153]
Mata was included in the Spanish squad for the2014 FIFA World Cup, playing 36 minutes in the finalgroup match againstAustralia where he scored the team's final goal of a 3–0 win.[156]
For me good football is not about how many skills you show or how many players you beat. It's about making the right decision every time you have the ball. I see players that make 100% right decisions –Iniesta andXavi – but there are also good English examples.Scholes,Lampard andGerrard made many more right decisions than wrong decisions. You see so many players with physical qualities. They are quick and strong but they don't make the right decisions. So for me the most important thing is to do what the game asks from you in the moment. You naturally know what is right which is why, even though you have to think about defensive duties and structure, once you're on the pitch you have to be free in your mind."
In addition to his favouredplaymaking role as anattacking midfielder behind the strikers,[158] Mata is also comfortable playing on eitherwing; he has also been used as asecond striker on occasion. He makes up for a lack of pace with his control, technique, passing, creativity, and vision, which allows him to link-up with teammates and register manyassists, in addition to scoring goals. A diminutive player, standing at 5 ft 7 in (1.70 m), he lacks significant physical strength, heading ability, or aerial prowess, but is quick, agile, and nimble in his movements. Predominantly left footed, he is also a well-knownfree kick specialist. However, he has drawn criticism at times in the media over his limited defensive skills and work-rate.[159]
In November 2012, along with fellow Premier League playersSanti Cazorla andMichu, Mata bought shares in former club Real Oviedo, who were struggling to raise €2 million to stay afloat in the Spanish third division.[160]
Mata and his father Juan Manuel Mata were part-owners of Tapeo and Wine, a Spanish restaurant onDeansgate inManchester city centre, which opened in 2016[161] and closed in 2020as a result of COVID-19.[162] Mata and his father felt that authentic Spanish food options in Manchester were insufficient and so wanted to create their own restaurant.[162] At the time, both Manchester managers,Pep Guardiola andJosé Mourinho were regular patrons.[163]
In August 2017, Mata announced in an article forThe Players' Tribune that he was pledging one percent of his salary to a pledge-based charitable movement namedCommon Goal, and called for other football players to do the same.[164]
^"MFフアン マタ選手 完全移籍加入のお知らせ" [Announcement of permanent transfer of MF Juan Mata] (in Japanese). Vissel Kobe. 3 September 2023. Retrieved3 September 2023.
^abc"MFフアン マタ選手 契約満了のお知らせ" [Notice of expiration of contract of MF Juan Mata] (in Japanese). Vissel Kobe. 6 January 2024. Retrieved6 January 2024.
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