Juan Mata | Player of Western Sydney Wanderers FC and co-owner of San Diego FC

Always thought more super-rich footballers in their 30's should use football as an excuse to see the world.

Pick a country you think would be cool to live in, join a side you know will either be battling for a title or to avoid relegation, try to make yourself a cult hero by helping them do that while you're there, then wander off after a season or two to somewhere else. Like a football version of Denzel Washington in The Equalizer, helping out teams in need. Except while also getting paid, obviously.
 
sullydnl said:
Always thought more super-rich footballers in their 30's should use football as an excuse to see the world.

Pick a country you think would be cool to live in, join a side you know will either be battling for a title or to avoid relegation, try to make yourself a cult hero by helping them do that while you're there, then wander off after a season or two to somewhere else. Like a football version of Denzel Washington in The Equalizer, helping out teams in need. Except while also getting paid, obviously.
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A lot of players aren't that cultured and would rather earn 200 grand a week living in Solihull shagging a page 3 model.

Actually so would I
 
Good lad

Too nice to even say he doesn’t want to take the blood money.

Actions speak louder than words though, Jordan Henderson take note.
 
I would love to see him be some sort of Spanish FA leader in the future or an even bigger type of football organization manager. He oozes pure class in the era of people who are very self-centered and un cultured in some aspects - within football management.
 
Groom him to be our future manager.

These young Spanish Managers seem to know what they're doing.
 
My recollection may be hazy after all the years have passed, but it seems to me we never fully capitalized on Juan’s strengths as a playmaker.
 
Andy_Cole said:
Groom him to be our future manager.

These young Spanish Managers seem to know what they're doing.
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that had crossed my mind, not sure if he ever expressed an interest in management. I think we he would need to be Mean Mata and not Hugs Mata for that job though.
 
lex talionis said:
My recollection may be hazy after all the years have passed, but it seems to me we never fully capitalized on Juan’s strengths as a playmaker.
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I can't remember him playing centrally too often always seemed on the right - could be my memory though maybe he just ended up out there.

Great free kick taker right till the end.
 
lex talionis said:
My recollection may be hazy after all the years have passed, but it seems to me we never fully capitalized on Juan’s strengths as a playmaker.
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Part of a very long line of number 10s we signed to play out of position
 
El Zoido said:
Somehow I’m really surprised he scored 51 goals for us.
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it’s the last few seasons that probably skeeed your memory - he started scoring quite a bit for us (6 in 15 in his first 6 months, followed by 3 seasons of 10 goals each).
 
Andy_Cole said:
Groom him to be our future manager.

These young Spanish Managers seem to know what they're doing.
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Agreed. But we'll need to build sort of podium on the touchline so he can see the whole pitch.
 
The Cat said:
I can't remember him playing centrally too often always seemed on the right - could be my memory though maybe he just ended up out there.

Great free kick taker right till the end.
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Mata’s free kick v De Gea was outstanding, but Dave’s save on that free kick was beyond all belief.
 
Great to see, seems like a top bloke, which these days is hard to find at the high level. Best of luck to him
 
Speaking of continents... Has a footballer ever won a league in every continent? Obviously including Antarctica.
 
I love how he’s now just seemingly targeting hopping between living in lots of really cool places under the guise of being a footballer

It’s refreshing to see a footballer doing that rather than just coining it in in Saudi
 
sugar_kane said:
I love how he’s now just seemingly targeting hopping between living in lots of really cool places under the guise of being a footballer

It’s refreshing to see a footballer doing that rather than just coining it in in Saudi
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Many players are philistines and if Wayne Lineker could afford to pay 9 figure weekly salaries they'd all live in Ibiza.
 
Is he going to come back and live in Manchester when he retires like he said in his United farewell video
 
How come he only had one game in Japan? I thought he would still be able to do it there
 
sullydnl said:
Always thought more super-rich footballers in their 30's should use football as an excuse to see the world.

Pick a country you think would be cool to live in, join a side you know will either be battling for a title or to avoid relegation, try to make yourself a cult hero by helping them do that while you're there, then wander off after a season or two to somewhere else. Like a football version of Denzel Washington in The Equalizer, helping out teams in need. Except while also getting paid, obviously.
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This is why I didn’t blame Lingard for going to Korea. People will criticise you for playing abroad and gaining new life experiences because apparently you should play for nothing in England until you retire.
 
sullydnl said:
Always thought more super-rich footballers in their 30's should use football as an excuse to see the world.

Pick a country you think would be cool to live in, join a side you know will either be battling for a title or to avoid relegation, try to make yourself a cult hero by helping them do that while you're there, then wander off after a season or two to somewhere else. Like a football version of Denzel Washington in The Equalizer, helping out teams in need. Except while also getting paid, obviously.
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Pretty much what Rivaldo did tried to do then.
 
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