Juan Mata says some Man Utd team-mates and Jose Mourinho will also donate 1% of salary to charity

Mata believes he can get other big-earners at Old Trafford to sign up to ‘Common Goal’
Mata believes he can get other big-earners at Old Trafford to sign up to ‘Common Goal’

Juan Mata has declared that some of his Manchester United team-mates and Jose Mourinho were going to join him in donating one per cent of their salaries to charity.

Mata was adamant of being able to convince other big-earners at Old Trafford to sign up to ‘Common Goal’, the launch of which he fronted last month in conjunction with streetfootballworld.

The Berlin-based organisation on Tuesday revealed that 12 more players - eight men and four women - had followed Mata in joining the scheme, although only Germany defender Mats Hummels’ name has been made public so far.

It is understood none of the remaining seven men are United players but asked whether any would sign up, Mata said: “They will. I’m almost ready to say who. We have more players coming but it is step by step.”

The 29-year-old also said manager Mourinho “will” join them, insisting doing so would not cut across any of their existing charity work.

Mata is confident Mourinho will donate 1% of his salary to charity too
Mata is confident Mourinho will donate 1% of his salary to charity too

“The final idea would be for the whole professional industry commit, not just the footballers,” he said.

“Sometimes football can have a bad reputation but there are great people in football who are trying to help.

“I believe there are great values in football and, if this helps on that, then great.”

He added: “We are human beings and we react in different ways but everyone understands what we are trying to do.

“Everyone understands we are in a lucky position, we are privileged and many others are not so lucky.

“We are going to try and reach every footballer out there. I think it will get bigger in the next few weeks and months.”

One player Mata could approach is Marcus Rashford, whose remarkable rise continued with the winning goal in England’s World Cup qualifier against Slovakia on Monday.

“From the first moment we saw him in training, we knew he was someone special,” Mata said.

“He is making it real scoring for us and England. He can be even bigger. He is a real threat. He has great qualities and the mentally to become a big big player.”

Rashford is in line to start United’s game at Stoke City on Saturday after coming off the bench to help them maintain their perfect start to the Premier League season against Leicester City before the international break.

United are being tipped to mount their first major title challenge since Sir Alex Ferguson retired as manager and Mata revealed the squad were full of belief they could do so.

Marcus Rashford has impressed Mata
Marcus Rashford has impressed Mata

Speaking at the Soccerex Global Convention in Manchester, he said: “The belief is always there. When you play for such a club, you start every competition believing that you can win it.

“Later, some things happen and some bad games didn't allow us to win it last year but we need to find that consistency that can make us fight in the last months and be one of those teams that will be up there.

“It's the second year for the manager, he knows everyone better, we know each other better, so let's try.”

:: For further charity information, go to www.common-goal.org.

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