Juan Mata is widely recognised as one of the nicest people in football and he has further backed up that reputation with his latest move.
Today, in a lengthy column for The Players Tribune, the Manchester United man has launched 'Common Goal' - an initiative in which he has pledged to donate one per cent of the salary he earns to a global charity which strives to give support to disadvantaged children through football.
Mata, has called for other players to join him in his project and wants to assemble a full XI of players who will donate one per cent of their wage to charity.
An amazing project starts today. Please take a moment to check it out. :soccer::heart::earth_asia: #CommonGoal https://t.co/UJbedfXnpW
- Juan Mata García (@juanmata8) August 4, 2017
Speaking about his pledge, the Spaniard is quoted by The Telegraph as saying:
"What we're trying to do is define a shared social agenda for football. Common Goal goes beyond individual brands and egos to deliver a greater impact. By making the pledge, we can form a lasting connection between football as a business and football as a tool for social change.
"We live by this mantra on the pitch, yet we rarely see it play out in the social impact space, which is dominated by individual initiatives.
"Through Common Goal we're creating a collaborative way for football to give back to society. I urge my fellow players to get involved."
It's a wonderful gesture from a humble, likeable man who happens to be an incredibly gifted footballer. Social media have been giving Mata plenty of love as a result of his pledge:
Impossible not to like Juan Mata.
- r i c h a r d (@richard_offiong) August 4, 2017
Juan Mata is a lovely scamp of a man.
- Paddy Power (@paddypower) August 4, 2017
Just one other reason to add to the list of things I love about Juan Mata.
- Rysh :princess: (@riripatelxo) August 4, 2017
Juan Mata is a hero. If every footballer in the Premier League donatated 1% to charity, it would generate £20m.
- Will Perry-Parks (@willperryparks) August 4, 2017
Juan Mata really is a special player on a human level. Brilliant gesture that more top players around the world should follow. https://t.co/DGb5Xpz2E4
- Dylan Walsh (@dylanwalsh_) August 4, 2017
Juan Mata will donate 1% of his salary to charities as part of his #CommonGoal campaign
Making a difference where it Mata's :clap::clap: pic.twitter.com/GYDOTzkjgm
- Ladbrokes (@Ladbrokes) August 4, 2017
Juan mata what a sick guy
- Kamal (@Bonaventura5_) August 4, 2017
Juan Mata donating 1% of his salary to charity. If you didn't know already, this guy is the biggest gent in the world of football.
- Scott Wyper (@ScottWyper) August 4, 2017
What Juan Mata is doing with his 1% donation is fantastic. The challenge for us non-footballers is: will we follow suit?
- Eugene Wong (@EWHK70) August 4, 2017
Juan Mata pledges 1% of his salary to charity & urges others to follow.
"With respect to the rest of society, we earn a ridiculous amount." pic.twitter.com/4KjlavtI4j
- SlashFootball (@slashfootball) August 4, 2017
Juan Mata is a good lad. More of his sort.
- Andrew (@AGRMoore) August 4, 2017
Here's hoping other footballers join Mata in his movement.
To find out more about Common Goal, visit http://www.common-goal.org/.
Featured Image Credit: PA
Topics: Juan Mata, Manchester United
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