Nemanja Matic is reportedly on the cusp of joining Roma as a free agent after bidding farewell to Manchester United. According to Gianluca Di Marzio, via Fabrizio Romano, the midfielder’s arrival at the Stadio Olimpico will become official once his contract at Old Trafford expires later this month.
Matic has spent the last eight years in the Premier League. After three impressive seasons at Chelsea, he switched to Man United in 2017, carrying a reputation as one of the best defensive midfielders in Europe.
Now in the autumn of his playing career, the 33-year-old is about to move to Serie A. He used to be one of Man United’s best-performing midfielders before the age caught up with him.
Matic made 23 Premier League appearances for the Red Devils last season, including 16 starts. However, the Old Trafford outfit refused to offer him a new deal as he now prepares to launch an adventure in Serie A.
Overall, he racked up 189 appearances in all competitions for United since arriving from Chelsea for a reported fee of £40million in 2017. It was Roma head coach Jose Mourinho who insisted on Matic’s signing during his time at Man United.
The two will reunite at Roma if the deal goes through. The Giallorossi are reportedly ready to offer Matic a one-year contract due to his age and a lack of first-team football over the past couple of seasons.
If everything goes as planned, Matic should be Mourinho’s second signing this summer. Roma have already secured the signature of talented goalkeeper Mile Svilar from Benfica. He should be the long-term replacement for ageing Rui Patricio.