Matic and Mourinho back together at United

LONDON: Serbian international midfielder Nemanja Matic (pic) signed for Manchester United from English Premier League champions Chelsea for a reported fee of £40mil (RM227mil).

It is the second time United manager Jose Mourinho has invested in the 28-year-old’s talents having brought him back to Chelsea in 2014 after a successful spell with Benfica.

Matic signed a three-year contract with United with the option to extend it by a year.

“Nemanja is a Manchester United player and a Jose Mourinho player,” Mourinho told the club website.

“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.”

Matic played just 65 minutes for Chelsea in his first period at the club before being part of the deal that saw David Luiz move to Chelsea and him move in the opposite direction to Benfica in 2011.

He said Mourinho’s presence at United had made it an easy decision.

“I am delighted to have joined Manchester United. To work with Jose Mourinho once again was an opportunity I couldn’t turn down,” he told the club website.

“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 takes Mourinho’s spending to almost £150mil (RM850mil) in the close season having outlaid £31mil (RM176mil) for Swedish defender Victor Lindelof from Benfica and £75mil (RM425mil) on Belgian international striker Romelu Lukaku from Everton – though that could rise to £90mil (RM508mil) with add-ons.

Mourinho’s spending may not be over yet as he is known to cherish Croatian winger Ivan Perisic who is at Inter Milan but United baulked at the initial demand of £48.5mil (RM275mil) although they hope the Serie A side might lower their price. — AFP