Melbourne Victory Head Coach Giovanni Savarese says no decision has been made yet over the future of Spanish star Juan Mata.
The reigning Johnny Warren Medalist is yet to return to Melbourne ahead of the 2026/27 Isuzu UTE A-League campaign, with reports suggesting the Spanish World Cup winner will call time on his professional playing career.
Mata’s contractual status at the club remains in limbo given he signed just a one-year deal ahead of the 2025/26 season, with the 38-year-old subsequently going on to claim the Johnny Warren Medal by a record margin after a standout individual campaign.
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SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA – SEPTEMBER 09: Sydney FC coach, Patrick Kisnorbo greets Victory coach, Giovanni Savarese during the Australia Cup Semifinal match between Sydney FC and Melbourne Victory FC at Jubilee Stadium, on September 09, 2026 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Brendon Thorne/Getty Images)
Victory reached the 2026 Australia Cup final on Wednesday night care of a 2-0 away win over rivals Sydney FC, however 38-year-old Mata has played no part in Victory’s cup run to date.
Prior to Wednesday night’s clash at Jubilee Oval reports online suggested the club was closing in on the signing of Uruguayan attacker Guillermo May in a deal that would potentially close the door to a possible Mata return given their visa spots would therefore be filled.
However, speaking after the 2-0 win over Sydney FC, Head Coach Giovanni Savarese said no decision had been made over the talismanic Spaniard’s future.
“At the moment, we’re still waiting for Mata to be able to tell us exactly what the next step is going to be for him,” Savarese said.
“We know that no matter what, he’s always going to be part of this club, and we continue to have communication with him.”
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Isuzu Ute A-League Playmaker Of The Year Award Winner Juan Mata poses for a photo during the 2026 Dolan Warren Awards
“We continue to support him.
In June Mata signed an agreement with the club which saw him purchase an ownership stake in Melbourne Victory.
That deal is seperate to Mata’s playing commitments with Victory, with both club and player stating at the time that no decision had been made over the 38-year-old’s playing career.
Furthermore, as part of that deal it was also agreed that Mata would chair a newly established football committee at the club once he decides to retire from professional football.
Now set to face either South Melbourne FC or Lions FC in the 2026 Australia Cup final, Victory will then kick off their 2026/27 Isuzu UTE A-League campaign away to Wellington Phoenix on Sunday, October 18.
