Juan Mata

Juan Manuel Mata Garcia is a Spain international football player who currently features for the English and European giants Chelsea. He plays as an attacking midfielder and is considered as one of the best in the world.

Mata is actually a graduate of the Real Madrid youth academy but was transferred to Valencia in the summer of 2007. He progressed through the ranks at Madrid since he joined the Spanish club at the age of 15.

In the 2006-2007 season Mata played for Real Madrid Castilla scoring 10 goals in 40 appearances. He featured in 129 La Liga matches for Valencia since joining them in 2007, winning the Copa del Rey with Los Che in 2007-08.

In August 2011 Chelsea signed Mata from Valencia on a five-year contract for £23.5 million. The Spaniard quickly established himself as a key player for the Blues and was instrumental in their triumph in the FA Cup and the Champions League in 2011-12.

Mata made his international debut for Spain on March 28, 2009 against Turkey in Madrid in a 2010 World Cup qualifier that La Furia Roja won 1-0. He played for Spain at the 2009 FIFA Confederations Cup, and won the 2010 World Cup finals and Euro 2012 with his country. Mata scored Spain’s fourth goal in their 4-0 victory over Italy in the final at the Euros.

Mata also won the 2011 UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship with Spain and represented his country at the 2012 London Olympics.