Cazorla, Mata & Michu buy shares in struggling boyhood club

Fans far and wide are chipping in and buying shares in Real Oviedo and Premier League stars Santi Cazorla, Juan Mata, and Michu have also clubbed together to help prevent their boyhood club going out of business.

Spanish third division side Oviedo are in a desperate financial situation and must raise €2million by the deadline of November 17 to avoid the prospect of going bust.

Fans all around the world have been buying up shares to save the club and three of their most high-profile supporters – and products from their youth system – are also doing their bit.

Arsenal star Cazorla, Chelsea midfielder Juan Mata, and Swansea ace Michu all started their careers with Oviedo.

Cazorla joined the club when he was 12 before moving to Villarreal, while Mata arrived at Oviedo when he was 10-years-old and it was where Real Madrid spotted him and offered him a place at their academy when he was 15.

Michu, on the other hand, remained at Oviedo for his entire youth career, from five until he was 21, and the Spaniard has said he is more than happy to help out the club that provided so much for him and his career.

“Myself, Mata and Cazorla have all bought shares, but it would be wrong of me to say how much. We just wanted to try and help save the club we all played for,” he said.

“The economy in Spain is very bad and the club needs around €2m to survive. A lot of people have bought shares and hopefully it will be enough by the closing date of November 17.

“It’s my local club, a club I love, so I hope it will be enough.”

Michu is hoping his boyhood club will follow a similar route back from the brink as his current side Swansea.

Swansea were near to closure a decade ago before fans clubbed together and rescued the Welsh club, which has since gone on to become a Premier League side.

Michu added: “Swansea fans should know how much it means to me and the Oviedo supporters.

“I remember reading up on the history of Swansea when I first arrived here; I remember reading how the Swansea supporters bought shares in this club when it was in trouble 10 years ago - and again many years before that.

“And look at the club now; in the Premier League and winning at places like Anfield. Hopefully this SOS can have a similar reaction.”

 

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