Juan Mata reminded followers of his enduring high quality with a shocking objective for Melbourne Victory on Saturday.
The previous Chelsea and Manchester United man, 37, is having fun with one thing of a renaissance in Australia having received the A-League’s Participant of the Month award in January.
Mata signed for Victory final September after a turbulent few years since leaving Previous Trafford – together with a weird stint for Japan’s Vissel Kobe the place he made only one look – and seems to have discovered his type once more.
He already had three objectives and 10 assists to his identify in simply 20 league video games this season, but he stepped up once more in considered one of Victory’s largest video games of the season.
Their conflict in opposition to Sydney FC is named The Large Blue given the massive rivalry the groups have.
And, simply 34 minutes into the match, Mata curled a pleasant free kick into the highest nook from about 25 yards out.
Juan Mata rolled again the years with a shocking free kick for Melbourne Victory on Saturday
The ball clipped the publish on its method in and Mata sprinted off in direction of his personal followers with a beaming smile on his face.
Throughout his celebrations, he high-fived a string of Victory supporters earlier than he was mobbed by his team-mates.
It was Mata’s fourth objective of the season and Charles Nduka made it 2-0 to Victory within the second half.
Nonetheless, Sydney fought again and pulled the rating again to 2-2 by way of two quick-fire objectives – and either side have been compelled to accept a degree.
Mata’s objective rapidly went viral on social media, with one healthful publish exhibiting his former United team-mates Bruno Fernandes and Harry Maguire watching on from the Pink Devils’ Carrington coaching floor.
The clip on Fernandes’ story was titled: ‘We simply knew it that from there he would not miss proper @harrymaguire93?’
Because the Portuguese filmed Mata lining up for the set-piece, Fernandes might be heard to say: ‘Over the wall, he has to.’
After Mata curled the free kick in, Maguire was beaming and celebrated by saying: ‘Oh my days,’ with a fist-pump.
Fernandes then added: ‘I knew it! The belief I’ve on this man filming stay.’
Mata’s former Man United team-mates Harry Maguire and Bruno Fernandes beloved his objective
Mata has been in advantageous type for Victory this season and is having fun with a profession renaissance
Mata, who received the 2010 World Cup and has a number of European honours to his identify, first moved Down Below in September 2024 to hitch Western Sydney Wanderers.
Nonetheless, his time on the membership was soured because of a falling out with supervisor Alen Stajcic over a scarcity of sport time.
Mata broke by way of within the Actual Madrid academy earlier than catching the attention of Europe’s elite at Valencia, the place he received a Copa del Rey throughout his spell from 2007 till 2011.
Chelsea rapidly got here calling and Mata would go on to make 135 appearances at Stamford Bridge, scoring 33 occasions and aiding 53 throughout a trophy-laden spell which noticed him win a Champions League, Europa League and FA Cup.
He fell out of favour beneath Jose Mourinho although and moved to Man United in January 2014.
Mata made 285 appearances for United, scoring 51 occasions and aiding 44 objectives for his team-mates.
He received 4 trophies with the membership, three of which (Europa League, League Cup and Neighborhood Protect) got here within the 2016-17 season beneath Mourinho after the Portuguese moved to Previous Trafford. Mata additionally received the 2016 FA Cup and left United in 2022 when his contract expired.
