Matic is expected at Roma
Back in April, Nemanja Matic, 33, announced he would be leaving Manchester United in the summer. It looks like the Serb’s next stop will be Roma. According to journalist Gianluca Di Marzio, the parties have already agreed on everything. Nemanja is waiting for a contract for one season with the option of an extension for a second one. It seems that there was no more obvious option for Roma for Matic. Jose Mourinho is a longtime admirer of the Serb’s talent. According to Opta, Nemanja has made 118 Premier League appearances under the Portuguese – no other manager has given Matic so much playing time. If we take the statistics in the top 5 championships, then only Frank Lampard played with Jose more often among the midfielders (140).
Jose signed Matic twice already – first he returned to Chelsea, and then called to Man United
- The Serbian first joined Mourinho in the winter of 2014 when José brought him back to Chelsea from Benfica. Matic got there just from Chelsea, where in 2009 he moved as a very young football player.
“I am very happy that Nemanja has returned to Chelsea. He grew up in Portugal as a player and became a fantastic versatile midfielder. I am sure he will be an important player for our team and will help Chelsea achieve our goals,” Mourinho said after signing. “I had other offers, but Mourinho is Mourinho,” Matic admitted.
- In November, Mourinho already summed up the interim results of the transfer. “He is a great player. He was signed in the middle of the season, the most difficult moment to move to a new team. And he proved himself to be a real giant – and not because of his height, but in his game. Just a giant. With virtually no adaptation, he joined the team in the second half of last season and has only been progressing since then, ”Jose was scattered in praise.
- The following March, the Portuguese announced that he would not have sold the Serb to Benfica in 2011. “If I had been at the club then, Matic would never have left Chelsea. At the same time, I think Chelsea acted bravely in bringing him back. With Nemanja in the line-up, our team has improved. Everyone feels comfortable on the field next to him. Matic is Matic,” Jose reasoned.
In the 2014/15 season, the couple won the English championship with Chelsea.
- Mourinho took over at Manchester United in 2016 before bringing Matic in a year later. “I’m sure the fans will love Nemanja. He is not only a Manchester United footballer, but also a footballer for José Mourinho. He has everything that I and the club need: loyalty, consistency, ambition. I want to thank Matic for his desire to join us. Without this, we would not have agreed with Chelsea, – Jose’s first comments after the transfer of the Serbian. Nemanya also did not skimp on compliments to Jose. “Couldn’t pass up the opportunity to work with Mourinho again,” said the Serb.
- José continued to praise Matic after the transfer: “In my opinion, it takes a genius to play simply in this position. And Matic is a genius, because he makes everything so simple – he conducts the ball and the team, in this role he is excellent. On the field, he turns on his brains.
- A year later, the Portuguese said: “I can’t say that in my career I have met players better than him.” Matic responded by saying that Mourinho is the best coach of his career: “Mourinho is a brand and the best coach I have ever worked with. He has human dignity and is not cold or conceited as he is portrayed in the media.”