Current reigning Europa League champions Manchester United have signed Serbian international Nemanja Matic on a four-year deal, the club announced through their official website yesterday, England time.
While neither of the two clubs have disclosed the fee paid for the reliable midfielder, it is understood the Red Devils have parted ways with no less than £38-million in order to land their transfer target.
The 29-year-old defensive midfielder is the club’s third signing this summer, after the arrivals of strong centre-back Victor Lindelof from Benfica and sensational striker Romelu Lukaku from Everton earlier in July.
Our third signing of the summer – it's great to see that #MaticIsRed! 🔴🙌https://t.co/8XrxDcnhnc
— Manchester United (@ManUtd) July 31, 2017
Matic’s arrival at Old Trafford has been highly anticipated for weeks now, after inside sources have leaked giving credence to United’s interest in landing the midfielder. Indeed, Reds boss Jose Mourinho has once managed Matic during the Portuguese tactician’s time at Chelsea and was keen for a reunion with the former Benfica and Vitesse star.
“Nemanja is a Manchester United player and a Jose Mourinho player,” Mourinho said in the club’s official site.
“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,” the manager added.
Matic seems equally enthusiastic with his new club, saying, “I am delighted to have joined Manchester United. To work with Jose Mourinho once again was an opportunity I couldn’t turn down.
“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,” the Serb further stated.
Mourinho was earlier quoted as saying that he has four transfer targets this summer that would help make squad ready for a Premier League title challenge. Now that he’s signed three of them, the United boss will be no doubt be happy about his club’s progress in the market.
Whether that will translate to results on the pitch come two weeks time when the Premier League season kicks off, of course, remains to be seen.