Bayern Munich’s Mats Hummels to join Manchester United star Juan Mata in donating one per cent of wages to charity
JUAN MATA has been joined by Mats Hummels in donating one per cent of his earnings to charity – with other top stars told to follow.
Manchester United star Mata launched the "Common Goal" initiative last week to help underprivileged children around the globe, with Hummels the first high-profile player to join him.
Hummels, 28, is not pals with Mata despite playing against him – but he heard about the wage pledge on social media and has vowed to follow.
The World Cup winner commands more than £150,000-a-week at the Allianz Arena, meaning at least £1,500 will go to good causes.
The Bayern Munich star insists other footballers should now do the same.
He said: “As soon as I heard of Common Goal I knew this was a chance for football to improve our world, and I wanted to be part of it.
“I feel we could be doing more to connect the increasing revenues in football to some kind of deeper purpose.
“This is what struck me about Common Goal. Through the one per cent pledge, we’re building a bridge between football and its social impact around the world.”
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Mata and Hummels have been high-profile ambassadors for Common Goal and there is hope that British stars in the Premier League will be next.
Mata said: “I don’t actually know Mats personally, so I was pleasantly surprised when he contacted me to talk Common Goal.
“He really gets what we’re trying to achieve and is the perfect team-mate to have on-board at this early stage.
“The fact that a World Cup holder — at the peak of his career with one of the biggest clubs on the planet — has chosen to make the pledge shows the power and magic of what we’re doing. The reception to Common Goal has been amazing so far and I have no doubt Mats’ involvement will inspire more players to join.”
The donations get paid into a Berlin-based "streetfootballworld" with the funds getting used for under-privileged children.
Hummels added: “I believe that Common Goal can make a real and lasting impact.
“I’m putting the call out to all my fellow footballers - join Juan and me and help to take the game to the next level.”
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