Former Manchester United and Chelsea star Juan Mata is reportedly set to continue his career in Australia with a new club. The 37-year-old spent the previous season with Australian A-League side Western Sydney Wanderers after joining them on a free transfer last summer.
He signed a one-year contract with the Wanderers, which means he was out of contract this summer. Reports suggest that the club are eager to keep the midfielder, but it appears he's set to reject any offer and instead join a new team in the same league.
News.com.au reports that Mata is 'set' to join Melbourne Victory on a free transfer. The report suggests that the midfielder will turn down an offer from Western Sydney to make the move.
It is hinted that he is seeking more regular game time, something that he has been promised with Melbourne Victory. Last season saw Mata participate in a total of 23 matches in all competitions, scoring once and providing three assists.
However, he found starting games challenging, with only seven of those appearances coming in the starting line-up. The fact that he is moving in search of more regular starts shows his passion for the game is still there, rather than just seeing out the final years of his career on the bench.
Mata helped Sydney finish seventh in the A-League with Melbourne finishing two places higher in fifth. Victory also made it to the A-League grand final, losing 1-0 to Melbourne City.
Since departing Manchester United on a free transfer in 2022, Mata has globe-trotted. He spent a year with Turkish outfit Galatasaray before moving to Japanese side Vissel Kobe and then Western Sydney in 2024.
Should the move go through, Melbourne Victory will become the eighth club of Mata's illustrious career. The Spaniard spent eight years at United, making 285 appearances, netting 51 goals and providing an additional 44 assists.
He also spent time at Stamford Bridge. In his three-and-a-half years at Chelsea he scored 33 times and provided 53 assists in 135 appearances.
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