“I earned 90,000 euros at Castilla when I was only 18”

Juan Mata, the Spanish midfielder recognized for his time at golf equipment comparable to Actual Madrid Castilla, Valencia, Chelsea and Manchester United, generated debate in 2016 with an interview on Jordi Évole’s Salvados program.

In it, he addressed the exorbitant cash in trendy soccer, recognizing that the salaries of elite gamers are “a nonsense” in comparison with society, though “regular” within the soccer context.

Mata recalled his skilled begin at Actual Madrid Castilla, the place at solely 18 years previous he signed his first contract for about 90,000 euros per yr. “My first skilled contract was at Actual Madrid Castilla. I used to be 18 years previous and I appear to keep in mind that it was like 90,000 euros a yr,” he declared.

This determine, already important for a youth participant, marked the start of a profession wherein emoluments escalated quickly, illustrating the financial leap from grassroots soccer to the elite.

Through the discuss at his house in Manchester, Mata criticized how soccer has turn out to be a giant enterprise, with house owners and managers above followers. “The house owners are extra necessary than the followers. It would not seem like soccer earlier than,” he mentioned.

He admitted dwelling in a “bubble”: “Actual life is that of my associates, who should search for work or have been unemployed.” Relating to his wage – round 150,000 kilos per week (about 193,000 euros) at Manchester United – he described it as “unreal” in comparison with 99.9% of Spanish and world society.

He was even keen to cost much less to scale back the “enterprise” in sport: “I’d cost much less in order that soccer can be much less enterprise.” This place contrasted with leaks from Soccer Leaks, which revealed his signing bonus for Chelsea (1 million euros) and salaries exceeding 4 million yearly.

His reflections remain relevant in a football where salaries have grown even more, questioning the disconnection between players and social reality.

Now Juan Mata combines the final stretch of his sporting career with an increasingly broad business and social agenda, which has made him one of the active footballers with a more defined investment and philanthropic profile.

Your investments

From Australia, where he continues playing football, the man from Burgos diversifies his assets between the sports business on different continents and a stable commitment to social causes through an NGO that channels 1% of his salary.

At 37 years old, Juan Mata is still active and does so in the Australian A-League, where he plays for Melbourne Victory as an attacking midfielder. The club announced his incorporation for the 2025-26 season, underlining the experience and leadership that a world champion player with Spain brings.

Beyond the grass, one of Mata’s big bets is his entry into the American soccer business. The Spaniard has joined the ownership group of San Diego FC, the new MLS franchise that will debut as an expansion team.

The footballer is not limited to the football business. In the motor world, Mata is part of the investment group Otro Capital, which in 2023 acquired 24% of the capital of Alpine Racing Ltd, the Formula 1 structure and associated competitions of the French brand.