Mata urges footballers to do more to tackle coronavirus

Manchester United midfielder Juan Mata has urged footballers across the world to do more to try and help with the fight against coronavirus.

Mata, who was an original member of Common Goal, a charity set up to encourage footballers to donate 1 per cent of their salary to support initiatives, has urged fellow professionals to do more to help tackle the crisis.

While many footballers and former professionals around the world, including Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp, United legend Eric Cantona and United Women’s manager Casey Stoney, have signed up since the charity launched in 2017 no United first-team player has committed aside from Mata.

And the Spaniard has called on his team-mates and players across the world to do what they can in the current Covid-19 pandemic.

“It’s been heartening to see many positive responses from players and other football leaders to the current crisis, but it can be also hard to know what to do to help effectively those who need it most," said Mata.

"We are suffering a stark reminder of how interdependent we all are. To overcome coronavirus, and the other challenges facing humanity, we need to coordinate individual efforts and work together as a team.

“I’m urging not only my Common Goal team-mates, but also all other players and football leaders from around the world to unite and help tackle this crisis, and at the same time use this as a catalyst to play a key role in tackling the other challenges humanity faces. Together we can beat this.”