Juan Mata has always been more than just a very good football player.
He is the owner of a restaurant, a good and pioneer for mental health, the Formula 1 investor and the owner of the Football Club – and everything between them. He even holds a MBE, granted to sports and charity services. His last project? Art coordinator.
As part of the 2025 Manchester International Festival, the former Manchester United star and Chelsea – who is now playing in Australia in West Sydney and Andrears his own exhibition: Football City, United Art.
It was developed in cooperation with the famous coordinator Hans Ulrich Oberist, film director Josh Wildej, and the producer of the visual arts Holly Shokureth, the project brings together 11 legendary soccer players and 11 contemporary artists. Together, they explore what happens when two worlds collide with taste and imagination – the stadium and studio.
Among the former football players, Erik Cantona and Shinji Kagawa, the current United Women’s star Ella Ton, the Brazilian legend Ray and always colored Edgar Davids.
From vocal installations, manga art to animation, sculpture and cooperation that challenges the type, Football City, United Art He pushes the borders and imagines creativity through a football lens.
“The concept is an attempt to create a relationship between art and football,” Mata told the official website of United. “I think it’s fun. It was an educational process for me, of course it is completely different from what I used to, but I am really happy with the result and exhibition.”
Mata was especially pleased to work alongside Cantona – a man who described him as “an artist on the field.”
The Spanish said: “The way he played football and everything he did, was different and unique.” “Thus he was very happy and welcome to the idea of joining. So, I am very happy and proud because he is one of the players in the exhibition and I am very happy to be here today and get to know it for the first time.”
Mata Gallery Show in North WarehouseAviva Studios, Water Street, Manchester from July 4 to August 24, 2025.
A unique cultural intersection-this is one of the football and art lovers who will not want to miss.
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