Juan of the best!

Manchester United player Juan Mata on his school visit

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CHILDREN at an Oldham primary school were treated to a Juan-ce in a lifetime visitor yesterday - and he came bearing gifts.

Manchester United ace Juan Mata popped into Kingfisher Community Special School to celebrate the Spanish Christmas tradition “Three Kings Day”. Children in Spain receive their gifts from the Three Kings rather than Santa, and on January 6 — the day the Three Kings are believed to have arrived in Bethlehem.

Mata says it was his favourite day of the year growing up and for the second year running he decidded to celebrate with children less fortunate than himself.

He gave every pupil at the school a present before visiting young patients at Wythenshawe Hospital to do the same, handing out around 500 gifts in all.

Mata said: “I have a friend who owns a toy company so we thought it was a good opportunity for us to do something nice for kids who have problems in their lives.

“I came to Kingfisher to deliver some of these toys for the kids and to see a smile on their faces, which is really nice. When I was a kid today was the best day of my year.”

Kingfisher has a special bond with Manchester United through Sheila Crompton. Sheila and her late husband Jack, the ex-Manchester United goalkeeper, befriended the Chadderton special school eight years ago and the couple became a focal point for fundraising and support.

Anne Redmond, Kingfisher head teacher, said: “It’s really great for the pupils to have someone like Juan come to visit. They know they are experiencing a special event and it’s wonderful for us to be able to provide that.”

Kingfisher is soon to be officially announced as a hub school for the Manchester United Foundation, which has already placed one of its coaches, Steve Harcourt, at the school full-time to get pupils involved in physical activity.