Nemanja Matic was reunited with his old boss Jose Mourinho at Roma on Tuesday after the Serie A club announced the Serbian’s arrival as a free agent.
Matic moved on to Old Trafford in the summer of 2017 but, despite having an extension option in his deal with the Red Devils, feels the time is right to spread his wings again and open a new chapter in Serie A.
Manchester United released the 33-year-old after five seasons at the Premier League giants, in which he failed to win a single trophy.
He has signed a deal with Roma until June 2023 and will wear the number 21 shirt for the Europa Conference League winners.
In a statement, Roma said that former Serbia midfielder Matic had signed a one-year deal with an option for a second season, with Italian media reporting that he will earn 3.5 million euros in the coming campaign.
“I am pleased and honoured to be joining this club and I cannot wait to start the new season with my teammates,” Matic said.
“Roma is a big club, with amazing fans and a coach, Jose Mourinho, who is well known to everyone – making the decision to come here very straightforward.
“I hope that by working together we are able to achieve some great things.”
A reunion
Mourinho was in charge at Chelsea when Matic returned to Stamford Bridge in 2014, and he took the Serbian international to Manchester United with him three years later as well.
“I already worked with him, we have a good connection and he is one of the reasons why I came here,” Matic confessed after making the move to Italy.
“It’s not only easy to work with him, it can be hard! But he’s a winner and he’s exactly what I want from my coach and exactly what I like to do in my career is to win. He’s a winner, he transmits that energy to the players. I hope we can do big things together.”
Roma’s general manager Tiago Pinto said: “The enthusiasm he showed at the prospect of joining our project was hugely encouraging.”
He added: “Nemanja brings with him to Roma not just a lot of quality on the pitch, but the vast experience he has gained from so many seasons in the Premier League and a focus and mentality that has consistently set him apart throughout his career.”
