An artist on the pitch, a gentleman off it: Former Man Utd star Juan Mata opens up about a whole new ball game

When I was given a phone number to call former Manchester United star Juan Mata in his native Spain, I confess many years of jaundiced experience rather got the better of me and I imagined an annoying PR would answer the phone, tell me what I could and couldn't ask and, once the interview had started, keep interrupting to make sure I was on message.

Please forgive me, Juan, I should have known better.

For starters, he answered the call himself and during our chat he was charming, intelligent and open, talking about his continuing love affair with this city a year after he left Manchester United and his latest project: a new collaboration combining his passions for football and art which launches today (June 29) at the Manchester International Festival.

And, more importantly, there was no PR in sight.

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You see, Mata isn't your typical millionaire footballer. There have been no lurid headlines about his private life. He doesn't have a clothing line. He wasn't a regular in the celeb haunts of Manchester and Cheshire during his eight seasons at Old Trafford. You were more likely to find him at The Whitworth art gallery checking out the latest exhibition. More on that later.

Things weren't always rosy for him during the post-Fergie slump. The little magician could play though. United fans will always remember the scissor kick goal he scored against Liverpool at Anfield in 2015.

Anyway, to my great surprise Juan Mata picks up the phone, his unmistakeable Spanish tones crackle into life, and we talk about his latest venture. He is collaborating on a two-year arts project, the first instalment of which is unveiled today (Thursday) at