Juan Mata: “Football can help you make friends and become a better person”
Juan Mata has always been a footballer with a reflective side, someone who carries calm intelligence beyond the pitch. This interview took place in 2015, when Mata was 26 years old and still adjusting to life at Manchester United after his record move from Chelsea. He speaks about privacy, identity, and the importance of staying true to yourself in modern football. It’s a portrait of a player thinking beyond the game, even at the peak of his career.
Three years after his celebrated debut against Norwich City and almost thirty goals later, the Spanish world champion now plays for the ultimate Premier League club: Manchester United. He arrived in January last year after a remarkable transfer from Chelsea (€45 million), which completely shattered United’s transfer record. Yet it seems that the impressive price tag has not placed any extra pressure on the Spaniard.
Juan Mata: “When you sign for such an amount, you know you carry great responsibility. Your only option is to stay professional and do your best. It is very important not to lose your mind over the insane amount you were bought for. I was very happy that United believed in me and wanted to invest so much, but I try not to think too much about that 45 million. In the end, it’s about hard work and performing well on the pitch.”
That nervous, scared and uncertain feeling most of us had on the first day of school is probably what many players experience when joining a new club. Mata did not feel that anxious at all.
“Manchester United has a phenomenal dressing room, I felt welcome immediately. Of course, you are surrounded by famous players, but I was impressed by their humility and their friendly reactions. I have become good friends with Ander Herrera and David de Gea. We live near each other, so we often visit each other to watch a film or have something to eat. But I think it’s important to have a good relationship with everyone, not only the Spanish-speaking players.”
The Premier League and his Life in London
Players often struggle with life in the Premier League, for example because of the speed and physical nature of the game, or because of the different culture and lifestyle. Mata admits that, even though the transition to English football was “reasonably easy,” he still has to get used to the early kick-offs.
“In Spain we play later in the day, and the pre-match meals are different as well. If you have a match here at twelve noon, you eat pasta at nine in the morning as breakfast. I really had to get used to that, but you need energy for the game, so it makes sense. I’m not someone who shows off, I value my privacy. When I lived in London, I could sometimes walk around without anyone recognising me. I lived near Chelsea, so I was often around Kings Road and Fulham Road. I also enjoyed exploring Mayfair, Notting Hill and the East End. I love London. Before I moved there, I had only been once, for a match, and I didn’t have time to get to know the city. From the moment I arrived in 2011, I really immersed myself in it, and now I am a big fan. London has so many different faces. You can do what you want, whenever you want. If you want to see a film, there are many great cinemas. If you want art, there are endless galleries and museums. I have visited almost every museum in London already.”
The Power of Authenticity
Today, football is inseparable from advertising and a slick public image. It is an easy cliché to start talking about fashion in football, but even Giorgio Armani has said that footballers are “the new style icons.” However, Juan Manuel Mata Garcia seems unlikely to ever aim for such a title.
“I quickly find shopping boring. I usually go to the same stores, so I know I will find what I’m looking for quickly. When you play at the highest level for a big club like ManUnited, image matters, but it should never come at the cost of who you are. The fact that you can play football well doesn’t mean you should dress differently. You have to wear what you want and just be yourself.”
Juan Mata senior, a former professional footballer at Spanish second division club Burgos, and his wife Marta raised a son who often breaks the stereotypes about footballers. United’s number 8 comes from an environment where hard work and proper preparation are highly valued. This undoubtedly contributed to shaping him, both on and off the pitch.
“I think it’s important to sometimes step away from my football life, because we have so many matches and training sessions. If you keep thinking every day about what you have done, you become mentally exhausted.”
Juan Mata’s Plans for his Life After Football
Football fans often talk about Spanish players, especially about their humility and eagerness to learn. Mata, who at Chelsea was voted Player of the Year twice in a row by his teammates, is no exception.
“I am doing a part-time degree in Sports Science and Marketing at the University of Madrid, but right now it is difficult to progress as quickly as I would like. I started studying when I was in the Real Madrid academy, but it is hard to take exams now that I live in England. I still have a few subjects to complete before I finish, but I am constantly in contact with my teachers and the end is slowly in sight. It doesn’t matter if it takes two or three years, it is still a great achievement when you graduate.”
Mata stresses that it is also important for young players to prepare for a “life after football.”
“For me, football is the most important thing right now. That is my focus, my life, and I love it. But I also believe you need to develop other interests if you have the time. Whether you want to play guitar or pursue a degree, every choice is an investment in your future. Hopefully, I still have many good football years ahead, but retirement age in football is much lower than in normal life. So it’s important to have other interests, otherwise you will get bored quickly and you can get into trouble. If you only start thinking about it when your farewell match is approaching, it is too late.”
Using Football for Good: Mata’s Work Beyond the Game
With the future in mind, it makes sense that Mata feels responsible for the next generation, especially for young people who have not been as fortunate as he has. He is proud of being an ambassador for the Spanish branch of the Laureus Foundation, and believes he can truly make a difference.
“I have been working for the foundation for a few years now. They develop projects and opportunities worldwide for children who don’t have access to education. Laureus also helps them integrate into society through sport. I think it is important to use football as a tool to stimulate a healthy lifestyle and good social life. I want those children to see that I have been very lucky to become a professional footballer. Football can help you make friends and become a better person. In team sports you help your teammates and work together. I think sport, and especially football, is valuable, and that is exactly what I can contribute to.”
Despite his busy life, Mata finds time every week to write a unique blog.
“I wanted to create something I could share with my fans. I write about books, films, travel. Not only about football. Social media has made the connection between athletes and fans much better than, say, twenty years ago. Sometimes people say things about you that are not true. Social media then gives you a platform to let people know what you think. The relationship between footballers and fans is important, because that is what football is ultimately about: without supporters, we are nothing.”
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