Man Utd midfielder Mata to give 1 per cent of salary to charity

Manchester United midfielder Juan Mata has called on

other top footballers to follow his example by giving 1 per cent of

their salaries to charity.

In a column for The Players' Tribune, the 29-year-old Spaniard said

he wanted to give something back to the sport that has given him fame

and fortune.

"Starting today, I am pledging 1 per cent of my salary to Common

Goal, a collective fund - run by the award-winning NGO

streetfootballworld - that supports football charities around the

globe," he said. "It's a small gesture that if shared can change the

world.

Mata reportedly earns around 7 million pounds (7.8 million euros) per

year.

"I'm asking my fellow professionals to join me in forming a Common

Goal Starting XI. Together we can create a movement based on shared

values that can become integral to the whole football industry -

forever."

The Common Goal Starting XI would be made up of 11 players who each

donate 1 per cent of their salary to the charity.

"The focus now is on contributions from players, but the long-term

goal is to unlock 1 per cent of the entire football industry's

revenues for grassroots football charities that strengthen their

communities through sport."