Manchester United have secured the signing of midfielder Nemanja Matic from Chelsea on a three-year contract with the option of a further 12 months.
The Serbia international was expected to join the Red Devils earlier in the summer, but the Blues were hoping to recruit a new enforcer before offloading his services.
Tiemoue Bakayoko arrived at Stamford Bridge from AS Monaco earlier in June, and this allowed Matic to hold talks with Manchester United, who were his preferred destination ahead of Juventus. The 28-year-old underwent a medical over the weekend, but Mourinho had confirmed that the player was ‘very very’ much interested in moving to Old Trafford.
United have now officially confirmed that Matic will wear the famous red and white strip after having moved north from the Premier League champions. Speaking to the club’s website, Matic said: “I am delighted to have joined Manchester United. To work with Jose Mourinho once again was an opportunity I couldn’t turn down. I have enjoyed my time at Chelsea and would like to thank the club and the fans for their support.
I cannot wait to meet my new team-mates and to start training with them. This is a very exciting time for the club and I am looking forward to playing my part in creating more history for this great club.”
Meanwhile, Jose Mourinho was also full of praise for his new signing who he sees as a ‘Jose Mourinho’ player due to his loyalty and commitment. Matic will forever be known for his thunderbolt strike for Chelsea against Tottenham Hotspur in the FA Cup semi-final, but other than this, he did manage to lift two Premier League titles and the League Cup during his second stint with the west London club. Mourinho had been yearning for a new midfielder in his ranks, and the chance to reunite with Matic would not have happened, had the player not pushed for the £40m move.