Mere days after Sydney FC unveiled marquee recruit Douglas Costa, rivals Western Sydney have made their very own assertion, signing former Manchester United star Juan Mata.
The high-profile Spanish midfielder has joined the 2024-25 A-League Males season on a one-year deal.
His sensible profession included successful the 2010 World Cup and 2012 Euros with Spain.
At membership degree, Mata received the Copa del Rey at Valencia in 2008 earlier than transferring to Chelsea, the place he received the Champions League, FA Cup, Europa League and FA Neighborhood Defend between 2011 and 2014.
Mata, 36, then spent 9 years at United, the place he received the Europa League, FA Cup, League Cup and Neighborhood Defend, scoring 51 objectives in 285 appearances.
He then had brief stints at Galatasaray and Vissel Kobe, successful the Tremendous Lig and J1 League respectively.
“I am actually excited to hitch the Western Sydney Wanderers, the one Australian staff to ever win the Asian Champions League, and I can not wait to reach and prepare with the staff to arrange for the season forward,” Mata stated in a press release.
“I am feeling grateful and excited for this new journey, and looking out ahead to making an attempt to win one other championship in a unique league.”
There’ll clearly be queries over Mata’s health. The 36-year-old playmaker most just lately performed competitively off the bench for Vissel Kobe in September 2023.
However Wanderers coach Alen Stajcic relished including Mata’s class to his squad.
“The addition of Juan to our membership and staff is priceless,” Stajcic stated.
“He is among the most revered, gifted and awarded gamers of a era and brings not solely soccer expertise and success hardly ever seen in Australian membership soccer, but in addition a humility to share his experiences and insights.
“Juan will assist our staff carry out on the sector, however much more critically, he will likely be an necessary determine in turbo-charging the expansion and growth of our youthful squad.
“It is an ideal day for our soccer membership and I’m positive all Wanderers followers will likely be excited to see what this staff can ship now.”
AAP
