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6 months ago
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A former Premier League star has marked their 36th birthday by sharing throwback photo with fans on social media.
The attacking midfielder became a fan favourite at two clubs during an 11-year spell in the Premier League.
The childhood photo sees the star looking unrecognisable from their playing pomp, with the future Champions League winner writing 'Always together' with the snap showing him gripping a football.
His senior career took off at Valencia after coming through the youth system at Real Oviedo and Real Madrid.
The midfielder was part of Spain's World Cup winning squad in 2010, before moving to the Premier League the following year in a £23.5million move to Chelsea.
The former Premier League star celebrated their 36th birthday by sharing a throwback photo
He was a fan favourite at two Premier League sides, winning the Champions League at Chelsea
The Spaniard was a key part of the Blues side who earned Champions League glory for the first time in 2012, despite being the only Chelsea player to miss a penalty in the final shoot-out against Bayern Munich.
In both 2012 and 2013 he was named as Chelsea's Player of the Year and was named in the PFA Team of the Year in the latter.
He would also lift the FA Cup and Europa League with the Blues, before moving to Manchester United in a £37m move in January 2014.
In eight years at Man United, the midfielder won the Europa League, FA Cup and Carabao Cup.
The fan favourite left at the conclusion of his contract in 2022, having made 285 appearances and scored 51 goals for the Red Devils.
The star is of course Juan Mata, a World Cup and European Championship winner with Spain.
Mata's former team-mates were among those to send messages to the star on his 36th birthday on Sunday.
Ex-Chelsea captain John Terry described him as a 'legend', while former Man United and Spain team-mates David De Gea and Ander Herrera also responded to the throwback picture.
Juan Mata spent four seasons at Chelsea was twice named as the club's Player of the Year
The Spaniard moved to Man United in 2014 and enjoyed an eight year spell at Old Trafford
Mata has recently been promoting Man United upcoming pre-season tour in the United States
Mata is currently a free agent after a brief spell at Japanese side Vissel Kobe, making one appearance for the Japanese champions before leaving the club in January.
The Spaniard had also spent a season at Galatasaray after leaving Man United, helping the club earn the Turkish title in 2023.
Mata was seen in a Man United shirt again last week as the popular former star helped to promote the club's pre-season tour to the United States.
He claimed that Man United should build the club's culture around captain and 'great leader' Bruno Fernandes while on a visit to San Diego.
English (US)