Juan Mataās agent has slammed his clientās current club, Western Sydney Wanderers, as the Spaniard struggles for game time in Australia.
The 36-year-old joined the A-League side in September after leaving Japanese team Vissel Kobe, where he made just one appearance.
The former Chelsea and Manchester United star has not been in action as much as he would like since moving to Australia, starting just two of Wanderersā four A-League games so far this season.
His last two outings saw him subbed off at half-time against Adelaide United and then brought on after 84 minutes against Newcastle Jets.
Wanderers boss Alen Stajcic has suggested Mata is struggling with the intensity of the football in Australia, believing it takes new arrivals be surprise.
āItās the intensity of the A-League; Iāve said this many times over, itās quite deceptive,ā said Stajic.
āItās a high-intensity football game, probably one of the most intense leagues around the world.ā
Mataās agent, Fahid Ben Khalfallah, absolutely does not agree and feels that a player who has shone in the Premier League and internationally is more than capable of handling his new surroundings.
āI think itās just insane. I donāt understand,ā Khalfallah told the A-League Off Air podcast.
āWhen you bring [in] someone like him, you have to play him in a system that suits him. I couldnāt believe he only came on for eight minutes or whatever.
āI think itās disrespectful. I hate it. I really, really hate it because it makes no sense to me.
āAnd Iām so sick, so sick of those coaches saying, āOh yeah, but the intensity.ā OK we will talk about someone who won the World Cup, won the Euro, Champions League, played in England for 10 years, heās always been one of the most intelligent and most technical players of his generation.
āHe wasnāt quick, he wasnāt the strongest. So despite that, he was one of the best players in the world. And weāre talking about A-League intensity? You must be kidding.
āPut horses on the pitch, they will be running ā but they canāt kick a ball, and they canāt play. They canāt pass the ball. Seriously, Iām disgusted to hear that kind of stuff.ā
Announcing his move in September, Mata wrote on Instagram: āToday, a new adventure is starting, and Iām super excited about it! I will keep enjoying this amazing sport by playing not only in a different countryā¦ but in a different continent: AUSTRALIA, HERE I GO!
āI have always been amazed with your country and longed to live thereā¦ Now, I will do it in the beautiful city of Sydney. Iām joining @wswanderersfc , the only Australian team to ever win the Asian Champions League, and I cannot wait to arrive and train with the team to prepare for the season ahead.
āFeeling grateful and excited for this new adventure, and looking forward to trying to win another championship in a different league!ā