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, and he quickly became 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 1 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 a football powerhouse.
