The likes of Javier Hernandez have had forgettable spells at Real Madrid
1. Juan Mata
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Mata in action for Real Madrid Castilla. Credits: en.as.com
One of the world’s most universally-liked footballers, Juan Mata has been a firm favourite of the fans wherever he has played. A supremely gifted attacking midfielder with an eye for goal and an excellent passing range, Mata boasts a glittering trophy cabinet, having won major honours throughout his club and international career.
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However, it all started in Madrid - a graduate of Real Madrid's youth academy, Mata played regularly for Real Madrid Castilla in the 2006–07 season before joining Valencia in the summer of 2007 in the search of first-team football.
He soon became an integral part of the club's midfield, winning the Copa del Rey in his first season. During his time at Valencia, he was also part of the Spain side that lifted the 2010 World Cup, which further boosted his stock and prompted Chelsea to move for him in August 2011.
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He lifted the Champions League and the FA Cup in his debut season, adding a European championship with Spain in 2012 before winning the Europa League in the 2012-13 season. At this time, Mata and his Chelsea teammate Fernando Torres became the first players to hold the Champions League, Europa League, World Cup, and the European Championships simultaneously.
However, after falling down the pecking order at Chelsea, Mata was sold to Manchester United in January 2014, where he has picked up another FA Cup and Europa League.
Vaibhav is a European and international football journalist who writes post-match articles for Sportskeeda. A post-graduate in Journalism and Mass Communication, he boasts a total experience of 6 years and has worked for reputed websites such as Times Internet and Men's Health India.
Vaibhav's journey as a football fan began after he was left impressed by the fast-paced action and the gripping storylines of the 2002 FIFA World Cup. He admires Kaka's elegance and determination, while his favorite manager is Sir Alex Ferguson due to the Scotsman's decision-making, vision and man-management abilities. He is also a passionate Manchester United supporter, and believes that Kylian Mbappe and Erling Haaland could create a historic rivalry similar to the Ronaldo-Messi one.
Vaibhav always cross-checks his information from a number of trustworthy websites and relies on his creative writing skills to produce compelling content. His exploits in journalism have led him to interviewing Indian footballers Robin Singh and Eugeneson Lyngdoh in his career so far.
Vaibhav’s favorite FIFA World Cup moment is Andres Iniesta's tribute to Daniel Jarque in the final of the 2010 edition. When not writing, he likes to read murder mysteries and watch stand-up comedy.
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