Blues playmaker hails new signings by Man City and Spurs.
Chelsea star Juan Mata has backed his fellow countrymen Roberto Soldado, Jesus Navas and Alvaro Negredo to shine in the Premier League this season after moving from La Liga in the summer, the Daily Express reports.
Mata himself made the move from Valencia to Stamford Bridge in 2011, and has become a star player in the growing Spanish influence on these shores, and is glad to see his friends and international team-mates moving to England as well.
Soldado, who played alongside Mata at Valencia, joined Tottenham for £26m this summer and has started the season in fine form, while Sevilla duo Negredo and Navas both moved to Manchester City this summer, following the club’s new manager Manuel Pellegrini in swapping Spain for England, as the former Malaga boss replaced Roberto Mancini in the Etihad Stadium hot seat.
Mata believes these new players can enjoy similar success to him in the Premier League, though he admits he hopes they won’t be at their best when they meet his Chelsea side.
“Personally I’m very happy to see them here and to play against them every now and then,” said the 25-year-old.
“I think it’s very good for the league because they are top players – they can score, they can assist and change the game.
“For me Soldado, Navas, Negredo are friends – more than team-mates or rivals – so I’m very happy to see them here. I wish them the best but not when they play against us.”
Mata was surprisingly linked with a return to La Liga this summer, with Barcelona and Atletico Madrid said to be keen on luring him back to Spain.