Juan Mata has had a difficult start in life since joining Western Sydney Wanderers as a free agent in September.
It has been two years since the 36-year-old left Manchester United and the Spanish World Cup winner has since moved on to Galatasaray and Japanese side Vissel Kobe.
A move to Australia would be forthcoming, but it appears the midfielder has struggled to break into Western Sydney head coach Alen Stajcic’s team.
Mata has played in all 11 of Wanderer’s A-League games at the start of the 2024-25 campaign, but has only started three.
His agent brutally criticized Stajcic, claiming his treatment of the former United and Chelsea star was “disgusting”.
But after a three-month wait, Mata got off to a strong start in 2025, scoring Western Sydney’s first goal during their 3-2 loss against Macarthur on New Year’s Day.
Former 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 had a mixed start to life at the Australian club, two years after leaving Man United.
The Wanderers were down a goal in the match, but continued to attack Macarthur, with Zach Sapsford and Josh Brilliante combining in a beautiful one-two play to set up Mata for the attack.
The Spaniard, who leaves United in 2022, found himself in acres of space on the edge of the penalty area and fired a low left-footed shot around the goalkeeper to draw his team level at 1-1.
However, his shot was in vain, and Macarthur fired back just three minutes later through Ariath Piol before Jed Drew gave them a 3-1 lead before the break.
Anthony Pantazopoulos scored a goal for Western Sydney but they could not find an equaliser, and Stajcic’s side suffered their first defeat in their last four games to remain seventh in the A-League table.
Mata, meanwhile, ended his year-long goal drought, with his last goal coming during a Super Lig match against Hatayspor while playing for Galatasaray on January 13, 2023.
Reacting to a video of his former teammate scoring his first goal for Western Sydney, Bruno Fernandes took to Instagram to applaud Mata.
‘The year changes but the magic never goes away @juanmatagarcia,’ he wrote, adding a ‘heart eyes’ emoji.
Another former Man United star, David de Gea, commented on the goal, writing: “Left foot” with a “fire emoji.”
The former Chelsea star has made 11 appearances for the club, but has only started three of those games.
Alen Stajcic has been reluctant to start him on a regular basis, and Mata’s agent had previously attacked Stajcic.
While Stajcic had previously described the midfielder as an “invaluable” addition to the team, Mata’s agent Fahid Ben Khalfallah criticized his lack of playing time.
He told the A-League Off Air Podcast: “I think it’s crazy.”
Mata has started only one of his last five games with the club, playing an average of 15 minutes in each game.
‘I think it’s disrespectful. I hate it. “I really hate it because it doesn’t make 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)’…
“Okay, we’ll talk about someone who won the World Cup, the European Championship, the Champions League, played in England for 10 years – he has always been one of the most intelligent and technical players of his generation.”
But his comments did not go down well with Stajcic, who called him a coward.
“His agent doesn’t control the team,” Stajcic said.
Mata’s agent is former footballer Fahid Ben Khalfallah, who played for Brisbane Roar. Stajcic called him a “coward” after saying the coach’s decision not to play his client was “shameful.”
“I don’t need to talk to agents when their players aren’t playing. To be honest, I think his comments were out of line. 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 talked to me about how a lot of his players he has in Australia have been mistreated by the coaches.
“They’ve been vilified or abused, emotionally, physically, whatever, and he never opened his mouth to protect his player, and his player, on this occasion, was on the bench, and that’s disrespectful.” I think his comments were cowardly.
“If he had any courage, he would have defended his players before last year, when they were in the positions they were in all over the world.”
Despite his lack of playing time, Mata appears to be adapting well to life in Sydney.
“I love the lifestyle here,” Mata said. ‘I think it’s a great city, you’re very spoiled, you have everything in this town.
‘I am grateful to the Australian fans, especially the Wanderer family.
‘I am happy. But of course you’re even happier when you play more and win more.’