UNITED SPECIAL Matic hands Fred a World Cup present
NEW United signing Fred is still yet to get off the bench for Brazil at the World Cup – but that did not stop Nemanja Matic from giving his new team-mate a welcome present.
Matic and Serbia were eliminated from the World Cup by Brazil in a 2-0 defeat in Moscow’s Spartak Stadium, where Paulinho and Thiago Silva’s goals ensured Brazil topped Group E.
United midfielder Matic played the full 90 minutes and collected a yellow card which would have ensured a suspension for the last 16 tie had Serbia qualified, but the Eastern Europeans finished third behind Brazil and runners-up Switzerland.
After the game, Matic met Fred away from the cameras and presented the Brazilian with his match shirt, which Fred posted about on his Instagram page. The 25-year-old wrote: “Thanks my bro @nemanjamatic.” The expectation is that Matic and Fred will line up in a three-man midfield with Paul Pogba for United next season.
United manager Jose Mourinho predicted Brazil would top Group E with Switzerland behind them before the tournament because Matic needed a ‘holiday’.
“Brazil wins. I need Matic to go on holiday, so Switzerland to finish second,” Mourinho said. “I’m sorry Nemanja, but you need a holiday.”
Matic will earn a minimum threeweek break but could link up with teammates on United’s pre-season tour of the United States. United’s first match of their five-game tour is against Club America in Phoenix, Arizona in three weeks. SERGEJ Milinkovic-Savic wants time to consider his future after Serbia’s World Cup elimination – but may have missed out on his chance of a move to United.
Jose Mourinho has closely monitored the Lazio midfielder in recent months – but with Marouane Fellaini now set to sign a new deal at Old Trafford, United are unlikely to invest heavily in another player in that department.
Lazio’s asking price of £80m-plus had already put United off making a bid this summer – but Mourinho remained an admirer of the highlyrated 23-year-old.
Fellaini is now set to sign a two-year contract, meaning Mourinho can focus on strengthening other areas of his squad after already spending £52m on Brazilian midfielder Fred.
Speaking for the first time since news emerged of Fellaini’s deal, Milinkovic-Savic suggested he could now remain in Rome.