Juan Mata Player Profile

25 March 2013 03:46

Juan Mata  is a Spanish footballer who plays for Chelsea in the Premier League. He primarily plays as an attacking midfielder and he can also play as a winger.

Mata started his football career at Real Oviedo, where his father spent most of his career. He stayed there for three years before joining Real Madrid at age 15. After appearing for their Cadete A team, he swiftly progressed through the junior teams, Juvenil C and finally the Juvenil A.

Mata had a release clause at Real Madrid during his last season at the club, and eventually agreed to sign for fellow La Liga side Valencia CF in March 2007, starting in 2007–08.

On 21 August 2011, Valencia announced they had agreed a €28 million fee for the transfer of Mata to Premier League club Chelsea, subject to a medical.On 24 August 2011, Mata signed a five-year deal with Chelsea. He revealed that Fernando Torres helped persuade him to move to Stamford Bridge, saying "Fernando got me excited about the thought of coming here. He said it would be good for me here, and that me and him together could be good. I also talked to my family and friends about it as well."

Mata made his debut for Chelsea against Norwich City on 27 August 2011 where he came on as a substitute and scored in stoppage time. Chelsea went on to win the match 3–1.

In the 2012 UEFA Champions League Final against Bayern Munich on 19 May 2012, Mata assisted Didier Drogba's headed equalizer, from a corner kick in the 88th minute. The match went on to extra-time then penalties, with Mata taking Chelsea's first, which Manuel Neuer saved. However, Chelsea went on to win 4–3 in the penalty-shootout, lifting their first Champions League title.Mata finished his first season at Stamford Bridge with 573 passes, creating 66 chances and completing 61 successful crosses, which all contributed to Chelsea's cup-double winning season.

On 3 March 2013, Mata made his 100th appearance in all competitions for Chelsea in a 1-0 defeat of West Brom at Stamford Bridge.

Juan Mata is a Spanish international and has 22 apperances to date, with 6 goals. Mata was a squad member for UEFA Euro 2012 and, after coming on as a substitute, scored Spain's fourth goal in the final, as Spain defeated Italy 4–0 to retain their title as champions of Europe.

Source: DSG