Ex-Man United star scores FIRST goal for his new club following a mixed start to life with the team – which included a spat between his agent and coach
Juan Mata has had a tough start to life since joining Western Sydney Wanderers as a free agent in September.
It’s been two years since the 36-year-old left Manchester United, and in the time since the Spanish World Cup winner has enjoyed spells at Galatasaray and Japanese team Vissel Kobe.
A move to Australia was expected to follow, but it appears the midfielder has struggled to break into Western Sydney head coach Alen Stajcic’s squad.
Mata played in all eleven Wanderer’s A-League matches at the start of the 2024/25 season, but made just three starts.
His agent slammed Stajcic, claiming his treatment of the former United and Chelsea star was ‘disgusting’.
But after a three-month wait, Mata 2025 got off to a flying start, scoring Western Sydney’s opening goal in their 3-2 defeat to 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 endured a mixed start to life at the Australian club, two years after leaving Man United
The Wanderers had fallen a goal behind in the match but continued to attack Macarthur, with Zach Sapsford and Josh Brilliante combining a nice one-two to set Mata up for attack.
The Spaniard, who left United in 2022, found himself in an area of space on the edge of the penalty area and fired a low left-footed shot around the goalkeeper to put his side at 1-1.
His strike was in vain, however, as Macarthur fired back through Ariath Piol just three minutes later 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 equalizer, with Stajcic’s side suffering their first defeat in their last four games and remaining seventh in the A-League.
Mata, meanwhile, ended his year-long drought with a goal, 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 ex-teammate scoring his first Western Sydney goal, Bruno Fernandes took to Instagram to applaud Mata.
“The year changes but magic never fades @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 made 11 appearances for the club, but only featured in three of those matches
Alen Stajcic has been hesitant to start him regularly, with Mata’s agent previously dropping out on Stajcic
Although 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 playing time.
He told the A-League Off Air Podcast: “I just think it’s crazy.”
Mata has started just one of his last five games for the club, playing an average of fifteen minutes per game.
‘I think it’s disrespectful. I hate it. “I really hate it because I don’t feel like it,” he added.
‘And I’m so tired, so tired of these coaches saying, ‘Oh yeah, but the intensity (of the A-League)’…
‘Okay, we’ll talk about someone who won the World Cup, won the European Championship, won the Champions League and played in England for ten years. He has always been one of the most intelligent and technical players of his generation.’
But his comments were not well received by Stajcic, who called him a coward.
“His agent has no control over the team,” Stajcic said.
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 coach’s decision not to play his client was ‘disgraceful’
‘I don’t need to talk to agents if their players aren’t playing. Frankly, 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 spoke to me about how a lot of his players that he has in Australia have been abused by coaches.
“They have been vilified or abused, emotionally, physically, whatever, and he never opened his mouth to protect his player, and his player was on the bench on this occasion, and that is disrespect. I find his comments cowardly.
“If he had had some courage he would have stood up for his players before last year when they were in the positions they were in around the world.”
Despite his lack of playing time, Mata seems to be adjusting well to life in Sydney.
“I like the lifestyle here,” Mata said. ‘I think it’s a great city, you are very spoiled, you have everything in this city.
“I am grateful to the Australian fans, especially Wanderer’s family.
‘I’m happy. But of course you’re even happier if you play more and win more.’