Former Manchester United midfielder Juan Mata recently received an MBE award.
The Spaniard joined the club in 2014 from Chelsea and spent eight years at Old Trafford, winning the FA Cup, Carabao cup and Europa League titles.
He played a total of 285 games and scored 51 goals.
Mata left the club in 2022 and has since played for Galatasaray, Vissel Kobe in Japan and is currently playing his football in Australia with Western Sydney Wanderers.
The club’s official website reported that “Manchester United hero Juan Mata has collected his MBE for services to sport and charity, after he was included in His Majesty King Charles III’s 2023 list of Honorary Awards to foreign nationals.”
Mata was recognised not only for his wonderful career which included a World Cup and Champions League medal but also his fantastic charity work.
An example of this would be that “in 2017, he co-founded Common Goal to harness the business of football as a tool for social change, asking its members to pledge one per cent of their earnings. Today, over 250 footballers and coaches are part of the movement.”
The former United man won the hearts of fans at every club he has been at and will no doubt always be fondly remembered by the Old Trafford faithful.
This can be contrasted with former darling of the club Marcus Rashford.
To be fair, the Englishman has also been highly involved in charity work and won fame across the nation for his incredible efforts during the Coronavirus pandemic to ensure free school meals for vulnerable children.
Rashford was also incredible for Erik ten Hag in his first season in charge in 2022-2023, scoring 30 goals in all competitions.
Nonetheless, his relationship with the fans has turned much sourer since then after his poor form and more importantly his questionable attitude off the pitch.
The England star got himself in hot water last year and had his professionalism called into question after going out drinking in Belfast and missing training the next day.
What’s more, he fell out with new Man United manager Ruben Amorim after only a matter of weeks at the club. Consequently, he was sent out on loan and has now been made available for transfer.
Finally, Rashford’s refusal to drop his wages for anyone but Barcelona has made it even more challenging to sell the player in a summer where United must generate funds from sales to finance further incomings.
Despite the fact Rashford is a local lad and scored many more goals for the Red Devils, it is Mata who will most likely be the player that will be most fondly remembered by the Old Trafford faithful. Something he may reflect on in future years.
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Alex Browne
Alex is a huge Manchester United fan, inspired by greats of his homeland such as George Best, Harry Gregg and Norman Whiteside. Proud owner of such niche shirts such as Kleberson, Eric Djemba-Djemba and Gary Neville. Grew up pretending to be Ruud van Nistelrooy and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer in the back garden, with little success.
