Mourinho’s Revenge! United Raid Chelsea for £40million Matic

Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho has set the ball rolling ahead of next season by raiding former club Chelsea for Serbian midfielder Nemanja Matic.


Matic, 28, is set to undergo a medical at United in the next 48 hours as the long-term replacement for retiring legend Michael Carrick.

The shock deal, which follows Chelsea’s impending signing of Monaco’s Tiemoue Bakayoko, will see Matic pocket around £155,000-a-week at Old Trafford as he reunites with his former boss.

Matic was brought back to Stamford Bridge by the Portuguese boss for £21m in January 2014 after being previously released from the club.

He played a pivotal role as Chelsea won the Premier League title in 2015, sitting in front of the back four and providing the perfect pivot for the likes of Cesc Fabregas and Eden Hazard.

The Sun reports that although Mourinho is presently in his native Portugal mourning the loss of his father who died on Sunday, Matic will become a Manchester United player before their pre-season tour of the USA on July 9 if he passes his medicals as expected.

United was said to be also interested in signing tough tackling midfielder Bakayoko, but pulled out after the 22-year-old opted to sign Chelsea on a four-year deal after having a £35m bid accepted by the French champions (Monaco).

Once done, Matic will form a power midfield partnership with Paul Pogba and Ander Herrera, as Mou tries to wrest the title from his former employers.