Western Sydney Wanderers have announced the signing of 36-year-old Spanish midfielder Juan Mata, eight months after the veteran midfielder left Vissel Kobe.
And play mother During his career he played for important clubs such as Valencia, Chelsea, Manchester United and Galatasaray, and he also represented Real Madrid’s second team earlier.
Mata had his last professional experience with Vissel Kobe, but he left the Japanese club last January, without joining another club, and has remained away from professional football for the past eight months.
Observers expected Mata to announce his retirement from football, but the Spanish international surprised many by moving to Western Sydney, the only Australian club to win the AFC Champions League (2014).
Juan Mata talks about his move to Australia
“I am very excited to be joining Western Sydney Wanderers and can’t wait to train with the team in preparation for the upcoming season,” Mata said of his move to Western Sydney. “I am grateful and excited for this new adventure and I look forward to trying to win another trophy in a different league.”
The new season (2024-25) of the Australian League is scheduled to start in mid-October, according to the website of the newspaper “Mundo Deportivo“Spanish.
It is noteworthy that Juan Mata has previously played 41 matches with Spain national teamcontributing 19 goals (11 goals, 8 assists), according to data from the global website “Transfermarkt”. Mata was part of the “La Roja” squad that won the 2010 World Cup and the 2012 European Championship, under the leadership of the famous coach Vicente del Bosque.
