Ex-Man United star scores FIRST purpose for his new membership following a blended begin to life with the group – which included a spat between his agent and coach
- A former Manchester United star has scored his first goal for his new club
- He joined the side in September and has made 11 appearances for the team
- But he has made only three starts with his coach clashing with his agent
Juan Mata has endured a difficult start to life since joining Western Sydney Wanderers as a free agent in September.
It is two years since the 36-year-old left Manchester United, and in the time since, the Spanish World Cup winner has gone on to enjoy spells with Galatasaray and Japanese outfit, Vissel Kobe.
A move to Australia would ensue, but it appears the midfielder has struggled to break into Western Sydney head coach Alen Stajcic’s side.
Mata has played in all 11 of the Wanderer’s A-League fixtures at the beginning of the 2024-25 campaign but has made just three starts.
His agent brutally slammed Stajcic, claiming his treatment of the former United and Chelsea star was ‘disgusting’.
But after a three-month wait, Mata got 2025 off to a flying start, scoring Western Sydney’s opening goal during their 3-2 defeat against Macarthur on New Year’s Day.
Ex-Manchester United star Juan Mata scored his first goal for A-League side Western Sydney Wanderers on New Year’s Day
It comes after Mata has endured a mixed start to life at the Australian club, two years on from leaving Man United
The Wanderers had gone a goal down in the match, but continued to attack Macarthur, with Zach Sapsford and Josh Brilliante combining in a lovely one-two move to set Mata up for the strike.
The Spaniard, who left United back in 2022, found himself in acres of space on the edge of the penalty area and swept a low, left-footed shot around the goalkeeper to bring his side level at 1-1.
His strike was in vain though, with Macarthur firing back just three minutes later through Ariath Piol before Jed Drew gave them a 3-1 lead before half-time.
Anthony Pantazopoulos pulled a goal back for Western Sydney but they could not find an equaliser, with Stajcic’s side suffering their first defeat in their last four matches to stay seventh in the A-League table.
Mata, meanwhile, ended his year-long drought for a goal, with his last strike coming during a Super Lig match against Hatayspor while playing for Galatasaray on January 13, 2023.
Reacting to a video of his ex-team-mate scoring his first Western Sydney goal, Bruno Fernandes took to Instagram to applaud Mata.
‘The year changes but magic never disappears @juanmatagarcia’ he wrote, adding a ‘heart-eyes’ emoji.
Another former Man United star David de Gea commented on the goal, writing: ‘The left foot’ with a ‘fire emoji’.
The former Chelsea star has made 11 appearances for the club, but has only started in three of those games
Alen Stajcic has been reluctant to start him on a regular basis, with Mata’s agent previously hitting out at Stajcic
While Stajcic had previously described the midfielder as a ‘priceless’ addition to the squad, Mata’s agent Fahid Ben Khalfallah, was critical of his lack of game-time.
He said to the A-League Off Air Podcast: ‘I think it’s just insane.’
Mata has started in only one of his last five appearances for the club, coming on to play an average of 15 minutes during each game.
‘I think it’s disrespectful. I hate it. I really, really hate it because it makes no sense to me,’ he added.
‘And I’m so sick, so sick of those coaches saying, ‘Oh yeah, but the intensity (of the A-League)’…
‘OK, we will talk about someone who won the World Cup, won the Euro, Champions League, played in England for 10 years – he’s always been one of the most intelligent and most technical players of his generation.’
But his comments were not well received by Stajcic, who called him a coward.
‘His agent doesn’t control the team,’ said Stajcic.
Mata’s agent is former footballer Fahid Ben Khalfallah, who played for Brisbane Roar. He was branded a ‘coward’ by Stajcic after he said the coaches decision not to play his client was ‘disgraceful’
‘I don’t need to talk to agents when their players aren’t playing. To be honest, I think his comments were out of order. They were cowardly, and they were cowardly for a number of reasons.
‘I’ve only spoken to him (Ben Khalfallah) two or three times in my life, to be honest, and he spoke to me about how so many of his players that he has in Australia (have) been mistreated by coaches.
‘They’ve been vilified or abused, emotionally, physically, whatever, and he’s never opened his mouth to protect his player, and his player, on this occasion, was on the bench, and that’s disrespect. I think his comments were cowardly.
‘If he had some courage he would have stood up for his players before last year when they were in the positions they were in across the world.’
Despite his lack of game time, Mata seems to be settling in well to life in Sydney.
‘I love the lifestyle here,’ Mata said. ‘I think it’s a great city, you are very spoiled you have everything in this town.
‘I am grateful to Australian fans, especialy for the Wanderer’s family.
‘I am happy. But of course you are even happier when you play more and when you win more.’
