Manchester United midfielder Nemanja Matic has ‘blindsided’ the club by announcing he will depart the club at the end of the campaign.
The Serbian ace is one of the most experienced players at the club, having played for the Red Devils since his £40m move from Chelsea in the summer of 2017. While Matic won three Premier League titles, the FA Cup and the League Cup over the course of two spells at the Blues, his time at United will end trophyless.
Despite the expectant arrival of Erik ten Hag, the 33-year-old midfield general has decided to end his United career at the end of the campaign to avoid triggering an automatic extension in his contract. And this news is said to have rocked Old Trafford officials who are now severely lacking in defensive midfielders.
"After a great deal of thought, I have decided that this season will be my last with Manchester United,” Matic said on Instagram. “I have informed the board, the manager and the players of my decision.
"It has been a huge honour and a privilege to play for this great club. A big thank you to the fans for their unwavering support.
"I will now give everything until the end of the season to help my teammates finish as strongly as possible." According to the Manchester Evening News, Matic’s exit has caused huge shockwaves as club officials expected him to remain at the club until the summer of 2023. Moreover, a specialist defensive midfielder is now expected to become the Red Devil's main transfer priority when the summer transfer window opens.
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Paul Pogba is also set to depart the club for nothing when his current deal expires at the end of the season. The Frenchman had been locked in contract talks with the Reds since the summer transfer window, when he was subject to intense interest from Paris Saint-Germain.
But the mercurial Frenchman, who was signed by Jose Mourinho for a then world record £89m, looks set to leave for a free transfer, ten years after he first departed the club for nothing. Pogba and Matic's pending departures The Red Devils have been linked with Leeds United ace Declan Rice and West Ham star Declan Rice, but both deals could be very difficult and costly.
Should Pogba and Matic leave as expected, it would mean Scott McTominay and Fred are the Reds only recognised defensive midfielders within their ranks. However, United are not expected to proceed with any kind of transfer business until Ten Hag has been confirmed.
Matic’s exit is perhaps not too surprising, given that he recently admitted United’s managerial uncertainty was proving to be difficult. "For the players, sometimes, if you know the manager is not here for the next season, it's not easy," he explained.
“When you change manager, every new manager needs some time to work on it and we are trying to do exactly what he wants from us. In some games we did that very well, in some games not that great."
Should Ten Hag’s appointment be confirmed, he will take over from current interim boss Ralf Rangnick. The former RB Leipzig boss will step aside at the end of the current campaign, where he is expected to step into the United boardroom on a consultancy basis.
