Juan Mata is renowned as one of the most genuine down to earth footballers, not only by Man United fans but by football fans all around the world.
In the Spanish playmakers latest good will gesture, he has decided to launch an initiative called 'Common Goal' aimed at helping underprivileged young people from around the world.
The initiative will see him give 1% of his earnings to the foundation and he has challenged his fellow professionals to do the same as reported by Rob Dawson of ESPN,
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 ootball as a tool for social change.
One of the first lessons I learned in football is that it takes a team to win a game.
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.
This latest gesture comes after Neymar's €222 million move to PSG, where he will earn €45 million a year, €865,000 a week before tax.
It is a fantastic initiative to set up and even though it is only a tiny percentage of his earnings, it is still a considerable amount to those less well-off.
Mata acknowledged last season that footballers earn 'obscene' amounts of money and that he does not like the 'business of football.'
It is certainly refreshing to see a footballer giving back to those in need and living in the real world and not in their own bubble.
