Yahoo Sports Juan Mata fulfils desire to continue playing after completing A-League transfer
Former Manchester United midfielder Juan Mata has just signed for Western Sydney Wanderers.
In an interview published back in May, Mata told Manchester United club media that he had no plans to retire from playing football after leaving J-League club Vissel Kobe.
Now he has taken his career Down Under, to Australia, in an attempt to win another league title in a different country. The update came from transfer news expert Fabrizio Romano via X, formerly known as Twitter.
Mata has previously won league titles in England, Turkey and Japan – but his focus will turn to the Australian A-League after joining Western Sydney Wanderers.
🚨🇦🇺 After winning leagues in Turkey and Japan, Juan Mata has just signed in as new for Western Sydney Wanderers in the A-League.
He’s aiming to win another championship in a different country, massive move for Australian football. ✨🇪🇸 pic.twitter.com/5ndJMvI9lh
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) September 5, 2024
After eight years at United, Mata left in 2022 to join Galatasaray where he spent one season before joining Vissel Kobe.
“It’s been great, to be honest,” Mata said of life post-United, as quoted by ManUtd.com.
“First Istanbul, Turkey, playing for Galatasaray and getting to know a different culture, different country, winning the league.
“So that was a good feeling. And, afterwards, Japan, which is an incredible country. I’ve learned so much from the Japanese culture and, even though it was short, it was only four or five months, we also won the league.
“So that was cool and it’s been great, to be honest. And now, we’re here, in San Diego. I’m still thinking where I’m going to play next. I want to keep playing. I want to keep enjoying the game.”
He added: “Explaining his decision to seek a fresh challenge, Mata is keen to find an opportunity to prolong his stellar career at one last club.
“I mean I still feel enjoyment and passion for the game. So I feel good physically, and I feel good mentally, but I want to make this next step, which is probably the last one, a meaningful step. Not just playing whatever, just for the sake of playing. I want to play in a place that motivates me, inspires me – on and off the pitch.
“So I’m on that journey, waiting, hearing, thinking and hoping I’m making the right decision but still playing. I mean I love the game and I think it’s a game that, until you don’t enjoy it, or you feel an injury or something like that, touch wood, you cannot play anymore.
“As long as you enjoy it, you should keep doing it because it’s the best job in the world.”
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