Western Sydney Wanderers star recruit Juan Mata confident of shining in the A-League despite his lack of recent football

Western Sydney Wanderers’ prized recruit has arrived in Australia ready to star in the A-League.

Former Manchester United and Chelsea star Juan Mata has dismissed concerns about his fitness and alarming lack of recent football as he embarks on his A-League journey with the Western Sydney Wanderers.

The 36-year-old Spanish midfielder arrived in Sydney on Saturday morning to a hero’s welcome at the airport, where he was mobbed by hundreds of Wanderers supporters.

“I’ve seen already the fans this morning and I can’t wait for them to celebrate something,” Mata said later.

Mata was part of the Vissel Kobe squad that “celebrated” winning last season’s Japanese top-flight championship.

However, after joining them in September last year following a spell in Turkey with Galatasaray, Mata played just 10 minutes in three months for Vissel before leaving the club in January.

“That’s kind of a long story,” he said when asked why he hardly played during his time in Japan.

“The team was doing really well when I arrived. When a team is winning, it’s difficult to make some changes.

“It was frustrating on a personal level, not to get as much game time as I thought I would … (but) with different stages in your career, it also makes you realise that you have to focus on keeping on giving your best even if you’re not being given the time that you want.”

Since then, Mata has spent time in London with a fitness coach and has recently trained in Denmark with FC Nordsjaelland.

“I’ve been with this team dynamic for almost two months, and I feel good,” the 2010 World Cup winner said.

“I feel ready to come back, and really eager to be on the pitch. I’m really looking forward to touching the ball again, to train with my new teammates and I feel good and confident that it’s going to be a good season.

“I love to play this game, and I’m still hungry to play.”

Mata said he was looking forward to crossing paths with the A-League’s other high-profile off-season recruit, Sydney FC’s new Brazilian winger Douglas Costa, in the Sydney derby that highlights the first round of the 2024-25 season next month.

“We played against each other a couple of times in Europe,” Mata said of former Juventus and Bayern Munich star Costa.

“We played also in big teams. It will be a great day for football in this country. It’s nice that it’s the first day, it’s nice that we play at home, and hopefully, we can get the three points.”

Wanderers coach Alen Stajcic said Mata would contribute to Western Sydney’s cause on and off the field.

“To bring someone like Juan … it’s a legacy thing,” Stajcic said.

“To have his football insight, his experience is something that you just don’t get that easy.

“He’ll be able to impart that knowledge. He’ll be able to impart his football skills to a new generation of Australian players.”