Juan Mata donates 1 per cent of salary to charity and invites others to do so
The Man United star has backed the charity Common Goal
Mata wrote a story on the Players' Tribune to explain him decision
Juan Mata is widely liked in the football world and by fans and the Spaniard has now gone above and beyond, donating 1 per cent of his salary to charity. He wrote a column at the Players' Tribune to explain himself. He also called on other players to join him in pledging some of their wages to help children with grassroots football programs.
Mata wrote: "So starting today, I am pledging 1% of my salary to Common Goal, a collective fund — run by the award-winning NGO streetfootballworld — that supports football charities around the globe. It’s a small gesture that if shared can change the world.
"I’m asking my fellow professionals to join me in forming a Common Goal Starting XI. Together we can create a movement based on shared values that can become integral to the whole football industry — forever.
"I am leading this effort, but I don’t want to be alone.
"One of the first lessons I learned in football is that it takes a team to accomplish your dreams. We live by this mantra on the pitch, yet we don’t see it enough in the social space. Common Goal is creating a collaborative way for football to give back to society. It’s the most effective and sustainable way that football can deliver long-term social impact on a global scale. Football has the power to do this, but we need to act together."
