Juan Mata has revealed he is relishing the chance to link up with Wayne Rooney at Manchester United as well as the pressure of his club-record price tag. The Spain international has moved to Old Trafford from Chelsea for £37.1 million (Dh225m).
Mata, 25, should provide the creativity and invention that has been lacking from David Moyes’s team this season, and he said he cannot wait to play alongside Rooney.
“For me, he is one of the best players in the history of this country,” Mata said at his first news conference with United on Monday. “He is unbelievable, he can score and he can assist.
“I will try to connect with him as much as I can. I will try to find the gaps in rival defences, try to be in the positions I have to be in to assist the strikers.”
Asked about the pressure that comes with his price tag, Mata said: “I like the pressure. I think it’s good for a footballer to try to improve. People are expecting big things from me and I am looking forward to it.”
Mata, who will wear the No 8 shirt, said he was attracted by the character of United and their reputation for never giving up, even claiming they were not out of the Premier League title race.
“It’s a new challenge for me,” he said. “This one was a massive challenge for me.
“What I like the most about this club is the character. I think if another club were in this position in the league, I think it would be very difficult to come back and take first position, but this club can do it.
“This is the real image I have from Man United, always fighting to win titles, always coming back from difficult moments.
“The team is really good. The squad is really good. This season they have had some unlucky moments they didn’t deserve. Hopefully from now until the end of the season, we will win as many games as we can.”
Mata revealed the move was “really important” to his hopes of making Spain’s squad for the World Cup this summer and said: “I just wanted to go to a place where I would feel happy.”
Asked about what position he would prefer to play in, Mata responded diplomatically: “I think that’s a question for him [Moyes]. I would like to play anywhere.”
Moyes emphasised his surprise that the club were able to make such a deal mid-season and said he would bring in more players of Mata’s calibre.
“I am thrilled. I got wind a month or two ago it could be possible, but I never thought we would pull it off,” Moyes said.
“When we got the sniff there was a chance Juan could be available, we went after it right away. Congratulations to the club and [executive vice-chairman] Ed Woodward for getting the deal done.”
The Scot added: “There will be more players like Juan in the future, I’ve no doubt about that.”
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The specs
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Transmission: Single-speed automatic
Max touring range: 620km / 590km
Price: From Dh250,000 (estimated)
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The specs: Volvo XC40
Price: base / as tested: Dh185,000
Engine: 2.0-litre, turbocharged in-line four-cylinder
Gearbox: Eight-speed automatic
Power: 250hp @ 5,500rpm
Torque: 350Nm @ 1,500rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 10.4L / 100km
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Important questions to consider
1. Where on the plane does my pet travel?
There are different types of travel available for pets:
- Manifest cargo
- Excess luggage in the hold
- Excess luggage in the cabin
Each option is safe. The feasibility of each option is based on the size and breed of your pet, the airline they are traveling on and country they are travelling to.
2. What is the difference between my pet traveling as manifest cargo or as excess luggage?
If traveling as manifest cargo, your pet is traveling in the front hold of the plane and can travel with or without you being on the same plane. The cost of your pets travel is based on volumetric weight, in other words, the size of their travel crate.
If traveling as excess luggage, your pet will be in the rear hold of the plane and must be traveling under the ticket of a human passenger. The cost of your pets travel is based on the actual (combined) weight of your pet in their crate.
3. What happens when my pet arrives in the country they are traveling to?
As soon as the flight arrives, your pet will be taken from the plane straight to the airport terminal.
If your pet is traveling as excess luggage, they will taken to the oversized luggage area in the arrival hall. Once you clear passport control, you will be able to collect them at the same time as your normal luggage. As you exit the airport via the ‘something to declare’ customs channel you will be asked to present your pets travel paperwork to the customs official and / or the vet on duty.
If your pet is traveling as manifest cargo, they will be taken to the Animal Reception Centre. There, their documentation will be reviewed by the staff of the ARC to ensure all is in order. At the same time, relevant customs formalities will be completed by staff based at the arriving airport.
4. How long does the travel paperwork and other travel preparations take?
This depends entirely on the location that your pet is traveling to. Your pet relocation compnay will provide you with an accurate timeline of how long the relevant preparations will take and at what point in the process the various steps must be taken.
In some cases they can get your pet ‘travel ready’ in a few days. In others it can be up to six months or more.
5. What vaccinations does my pet need to travel?
Regardless of where your pet is traveling, they will need certain vaccinations. The exact vaccinations they need are entirely dependent on the location they are traveling to. The one vaccination that is mandatory for every country your pet may travel to is a rabies vaccination.
Other vaccinations may also be necessary. These will be advised to you as relevant. In every situation, it is essential to keep your vaccinations current and to not miss a due date, even by one day. To do so could severely hinder your pets travel plans.
Source: Pawsome Pets UAE
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