Juan Manuel Mata García is 20-year old Spanish striker currently playing for the Spanish first division side Valencia. He is actually a graduate of the Real Madrid youth academy but was transferred to Valencia in the summer of 2007.

Mata progressed through the ranks at Real Madrid since he joined the Spanish club at the age of 15. In the 2006-2007 season he played for Real Madrid Castilla scoring 10 goals in 40 appearances. He has featured in 29 matches for Valencia in all competitions this season and has netted 8 times.

Juan Mata is said to be a star in the making and beside playing professional football, he also goes to the university. Mata attends the Universidad Politecnica de Madrid studying journalism and play table-tennis in his spare time.