Juan Mata not fazed by price tag after £37m move to Manchester United

Juan Mata has welcomed the pressure of being Manchester United's £37.1m record signing.

The Spaniard, who was unveiled by the club on Monday following his move from Chelsea, is also relishing the chance to play alongside Wayne Rooney and believes he can help get the best out of the England striker.

"I love the pressure. When people are suspecting big things from you then it's a challenge but I am looking forward to being successful," the 25-year-old said. "This is a massive club. I've realised that since I came here and I'm really glad to be here. This is the club that has won the most trophies and it's down to me to show people the football I have inside of me."

Despite being recognised as a No10, he faces competition to play there owing to Rooney's presence. Mata claimed he is happy to operate in any position. "I will play anywhere the manager wants me to. I just want to help the team win as many games as they can," he said.

"For me he [Rooney] is one of the best players in the history of this country. He is unbelievable, he can score and he can assist.

"I will try to connect with him as much as I can. I will try to find the gaps in defences, try to be in the positions I have to be in to assist the strikers."

Mata, who will wear the No8 shirt, said he was attracted by the character of United and their reputation for never giving up, even claiming they were not out of the Premier League title race.

"It's a new challenge for me," he said. "This one was a massive challenge for me. What I like the most about this club is the character. I think if another club were in this position in the league, I think it would be very difficult to come back and take first position, but this club can do it.

"This is the real image I have from Man United, always fighting to win titles, always coming back from difficult moments.

"The team is really good, the squad is really good. This season they have had some unlucky moments they didn't deserve. Hopefully from now until the end of the season we will win as many games as we can."

Mata revealed the move was "really important" to his hopes of making Spain's squad for the World Cup. "I just wanted to go to a place where I would feel happy."

Juan Mata, right, was officially unveiled as a Manchester United player by manager David Moyes on Monday. Photograph: Lynne Cameron/PA

Asked about what position he would prefer to play in, Mata diplomatically responded: "I think that's a question for him [Moyes]. I would like to play anywhere."

Moyes emphasised his surprise that the club were able to do such a deal mid-season and said he would bring in more players of Mata's calibre.

"I am thrilled, I got wind a month or two ago it could be possible but I never thought we would pull it off. When we got the sniff there was a chance Juan could be available we went after it right away. Congratulations to the club and [executive vice-chairman] Ed Woodward for getting the deal done. There will be more players like Juan in the future, I've no doubt about that."