Mourinho: Matic represents everything United want in a footballer
LONDON: Manchester United have signed Serbia midfielder Nemanja Matic from Premier League champions Chelsea on a three-year contract with an option to extend for a further year, both clubs said yesterday.
Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed, but British media reported that United paid between £40million and £50m to reunite the 28-year-old midfielder with manager Jose Mourinho.
“Nemanja is a Manchester United player and a Jose Mourinho player,” Mourinho said in a statement.
“He represents everything we want in a footballer; loyalty, consistency, ambition, team player.
“I would like to thank him for his desire to join us because without that, it would be impossible to have him here. I am sure our players and supporters will love him. A big welcome to our new number 31.”
Mourinho signed Matic when he was in charge of Chelsea in 2014. Matic, who originally joined Chelsea in 2009 before moving to Benfica in 2011, became an influential part of Chelsea’s title-winning side under Mourinho in 201415.
“To work with Jose Mourinho once again was an opportunity I couldn’t turn down,” Matic said.
“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.”
Matic’s arrival followed Mourinho’s unsuccessful move for Tottenham Hotspur’s Eric Dier as United seek to mount a serious Premier League challenge for the first time since the departure of Sir Alex Ferguson as manager in 2013.
Matic made 40 appearances in all competitions for Chelsea last season as Italian Antonio Conte marked his first season in charge of the London-based club by winning the league.
However, Chelsea’s signing of Monaco midfielder Tiemoue Bakayoko in this transfer window was an indication that Matic could have struggled for game time next season.
United have also signed defender Victor Lindelof from Benfica and striker Romelu Lukaku from Everton.
Elsewhere, players running down their contracts will become the norm in years to come due to skyrocketing transfer fees, Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has said.
Alexis Sanchez and Mesut Ozil have both entered the final year of their deals, while Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Santi Cazorla, Jack Wilshere and Kieran Gibbs could also leave Arsenal for free in 12 months’ time.
Wenger tried to see the positive side, saying it could be an “ideal situation” for the club as the players would be motivated to perform to impress potential suitors.
“I think in the future, you will see it more and more. Why? Because the transfers are so high, even for normal players,” he told reporters on Sunday.
“You will see more and more players going into the final year of the contract because no club will want to pay the amount demanded ... in the next 10 years, it will become usual.
“I think the performance on the day does not depend on the length of the contract, if that was true we would sign everyone for 20 years and be happy.”
Sanchez, who was Arsenal’s top scorer in the league with 24 goals last season, has been linked with a move to Paris St Germain in the French media, but Wenger was adamant he would stay at the Emirates Stadium.
“Do I think he will stay? Yes, of course. How many times did I tell you that?,” the Frenchman added.
“One day, he will go and Arsenal will go on. We will all go one day and Arsenal, hopefully, will go on.”
Meanwhile, Liverpool midfielder Georginio Wijnaldum is impressed by how quickly new signing Mohamed Salah has adapted to manager Jurgen Klopp’s high energy style and believes the Egyptian winger’s raw pace will give the team an added dimension next season.
Salah was on target in Liverpool’s 3-0 win over Hertha Berlin in a pre-season friendly at the Olympiastadion on Saturday, lifting Philippe Coutinho’s pinpoint lobbed pass over the goalkeeper for his third goal since signing from Roma last month.
“He’s really flying,” Wijnaldum, who scored Liverpool’s second, told the club website. (www.liverpoolfc.com)
“He has settled in really well. He’s not only a great player but also a great person, and that makes it easier for him but also for us to accept him.” – Reuters