Manchester United midfielder Juan Mata celebrates his 29th birthday today, so everyone here at Shoot! would like to wish the Spaniard many happy returns!

Mata started his footballing career at Real Oviedo before joining the Real Madrid youth academy at the tender age of 15.

He played a season for the Real Madrid Castilla side before sealing a move to La Liga outfit Valencia in 2007, where he went on to appear 174 times in a four-year stint before moving to England with Chelsea in the summer of 2011.

The 29-year-old was a big success at Stamford Bridge, scoring 33 times in 135 games for the Blues, and was twice their Player of the Season such were his impressive displays for the West London outfit.

However, he fell out of favour under Jose Mourinho and sealed a £37 million move to United in January 2014, where he has gone on to make 174 appearances, and net 36 times.

Mata is currently on the sidelines due to injury, yet with it being his 29th birthday today, we at Shoot! have brought you FIVE things you probably didn’t know about the Spanish playmaker…

Brought to you by Shoot!

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