Amedeo Carboni has labelled Juan Mata as his best signing during his tenure as sporting director at Valencia.

After coming through the ranks at Real Madrid, Mata spent a season with Castilla in the Segunda Division in 2005/06, and finished the term as his team's top goalscorer with 10.

With his contract with Real expiring in the summer of 2006, the young playmaker was then courted by Carboni and Valencia.

Mata agreed to join Los Che in March in a deal which Spanish publication Marca described as a 'steal' due to his 'promising' talent.

Carboni left the club that summer as sporting director, but his legacy was cemented by the talents of Mata, who went on to make 174 appearances for Valencia before joining Chelsea in 2011.

Now with Manchester United, the 32-year-old has won the Champions League, Europa League and two FA Cup's during his time in England.

And Carboni says Valencia got the better of Real, who were happy for the World Cup winner to leave.

When quizzed by Tribalfootball who was his best signing as sporting director, Carboni answered: "Juan Mata."

Asked what he saw in the playmaker, Carboni continued: "Juan Mata's situation was in similar to [David] Silva's situation, in which we saw what in Mata what Madrid did not see.

"We bet on Mata, without the recommendation of the Madrid coach who didn't want him in the squad, and we won the bet. His football career is our pride and joy as well as Silva's."