Ex-Man United star Mata buys stake in San Diego

Former Spain worldwide and World Cup winner Juan Mata has joined the possession group of MLS growth facet San Diego FC, the membership introduced on Wednesday.

Mata, at present enjoying with Australian A-League Males facet Western Sydney Wanderers, is the primary energetic worldwide soccer participant to carry an possession stake in an MLS crew, and joins Inter Miami CF co-owner David Beckham as solely the second worldwide participant to be concerned in MLS possession.

San Diego, which can start play subsequent season, is owned by Egyptian businessman and membership chairman Sir Mohamed Mansour, with the Sycuan Band of the Kumeyaay Nation, a Native American tribe whose reservation is situated close to El Cajon, California, additionally within the possession group.

Mansour additionally owns Danish membership FC Nordsjælland and the Proper to Dream Academy, a soccer academy which has amenities in Ghana, Egypt, and Denmark.

“We’re completely delighted that Juan Mata has joined the membership as a associate,” mentioned Mansour. “Juan has been an energetic and long-term supporter of Proper to Dream, and he shares our values of wanting to make use of soccer to ship long-term social affect and alter.”

Mata, 36, based the Frequent Purpose initiative in 2017, pledging one p.c of his wage to social causes. Frequent Purpose is a associate of Proper to Dream (RTD).

“Becoming a member of San Diego FC as a associate is an thrilling alternative to assist construct one thing actually particular in a metropolis and league which might be experiencing unimaginable progress,” mentioned Mata in a press release launched by the crew. “The dedication of each this Membership and Proper to Dream to neighborhood affect, excellence, and a imaginative and prescient for long-term success aligns completely with my very own values. I stay up for contributing my expertise and fervour for the sport and dealing alongside everybody right here to construct a Membership that evokes each on and off the pitch.”

Mata has loved a glittering profession as a participant, one which, along with his World Cup exploits has seen him win Euro 2012 with Spain, and the 2011-12 UEFA Champions League with Chelsea.

“Juan’s addition to SDFC’s possession group brings a worldwide perspective and a dedication to constructive social affect that completely aligns with our Membership’s mission,” mentioned SDFC CEO Tom Penn. “As a World Cup champion, Champions League winner, and a frontrunner each on and off the sector, Juan embodies excellence and function in all the pieces he does. His ardour for utilizing soccer as a drive for good resonates deeply with our imaginative and prescient for our SDFC and our neighborhood, and we could not be extra thrilled to welcome him to our Membership.”

A product of Real Madrid‘s youth academy, Mata started his skilled profession with Actual Madrid Castilla earlier than transferring to Valencia CF in 2007, the place he gained the Copa del Rey the next yr.

Mata signed for Chelsea in 2011, and along with the Champions League, he was a part of sides that claimed the 2012 FA Cup, and the 2013 UEFA Europa League titles. He additionally earned Chelsea’s Participant of the Yr honors twice in that span.

Mata additionally loved success upon becoming a member of Manchester United in January of 2014, profitable the FA Cup, Europa League and EFL Cup throughout his 9 seasons with the membership. He later gained league titles in Turkey with Galatasaray, and in Japan with Vissel Kobe.

He joined Western Sydney Wanderers in September of this yr.

Mata is a strategic investor in Alpine Racing Ltd, a Method 1 crew backed by Renault Group by way of Otro Capital, a non-public funding fund centered on sports activities, media, and leisure ventures.