Having won the A-League Men’s Johnny Warren medal, the award for the competition’s player of the year, Mata has been thriving down under as he continues to impress outside of Europe.
The 38 year old bagged five goals and picked up 13 assists as he helped the club to its 15th finals series as he quickly becomes a fan favourite despite many writing him off due to his age.
Mata, a keen investor, has already built a portfolio which includes MLS club San Diego FC and the BWT Alpine Formula One team.
Now, he has agreed to become a shareholder in Melbourne Victory as he spoke on the decision and why he believes the A-League has a lot more to prove in the coming years.
“Australian football has a future I genuinely believe in. From the moment I arrived at Melbourne Victory, I’ve felt the passion of this Club and the potential of the A-Leagues, and I want to be part of building what comes next – not just for a season, but for the long term.
“I have enjoyed so much this past season on the pitch, and committing to Victory as a shareholder is the natural next step. I want to thank everyone associated with the Club and across Australian football for the way they’ve welcomed me.”
Mata joins a number of investors including Hearts and Brighton and Hove Albion owner Tony Bloom who clearly has the same vision as the Spaniard who predicts that Australia could become the next football powerhouse.