Juan Mata scored a sublime free-kick in Australia and went on to send a message to his former Manchester United team-mate Bruno Fernandes
Juan Mata of Melbourne Victory
Juan Mata left Manchester United in 2022(Image: Jeremy Ng/Getty Images)
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Juan Mata has called on his former Manchester United teammate Bruno Fernandes to replicate his stunning free-kick from his latest A-League match.
Mata helped Melbourne Victory earn a point in a 2-2 draw with Sydney FC on Saturday in Australia, finding the back of the net with a free-kick in the 34th minute.
Charles Nduka was also on the score sheet for Victory, which gave the visitors a 2-0 lead in Sydney.
The home side responded with goals from Apostolos Stamatelopoulos and Ahmet Arslan to see the points shared at the Allianz Stadium.
Mata opened the scoring with a sublime free-kick, and it seems some former United team-mates were watching the former Reds star in action in Australia.
Fernandes posted a video on his Instagram story of himself watching Mata score for Victory, and was accompanied by United team-mate Harry Maguire, who joined in the celebrations.
The caption on the video from Fernandes read: “We just knew it that from right there he doesn’t miss right [Harry Maguire]?”
Mata was asked about Fernandes’ post immediately after the final whistle in Victory’s draw with Sydney, and the former United star went on to send a request to his former team-mate.
“Yeah, well, I love them and I’m happy they follow the A-League, they follow our games,” Mata told the A-League official account. “And I hope that in the next game Bruno can score a similar goal.”
Fernandes and Mata were team-mates at United before the Spain international left Old Trafford in the summer of 2022 as a free agent, before going on to join Galatasaray.
After a spell in Japan with Vissel Kobe, Mata made the move to Australia to join the Western Sydney Wanderers in 2024 and went on to make the switch to Melbourne last year.
The draw leaves Victory in fifth place in the A-League table and four points behind third-placed Sydney FC, while Newcastle Jets currently lead the table, 11 points ahead of Melbourne.
“When you are winning 2-0 away at Sydney FC, you feel that you are very close to winning a very important game,” Mata added.
“Unfortunately, we had five or 10 minutes of madness where they scored two and probably were on top and could have scored one or two more goals.
“But at least we took a point, but it’s bittersweet because when you’re winning 2-0 and not so long to go, you feel that you are close to winning.”
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