Nemanja Matic has revealed he left Erik ten Hag's Manchester United for Jose Mourinho's Roma in the summer to play more often.
The Serbia international, 34, was granted a free transfer by the Red Devils after five years of service. He was brought to Old Trafford by Mourinho after their time together at Chelsea, where they won a Premier League and EFL Cup double during the 2014/15 campaign.
Matic made 189 appearances for United during that time but saw his minutes limited towards the end of his spell by Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Ralf Rangnick. The midfielder made just 16 Premier League starts last season and only 12 during the 2020/21 campaign.
Matic has played more frequently at Roma, featuring in all nine of their fixtures this season in Serie A and the Europa League. More importantly, though, he's started seven of those games to help Mourinho's side pick up five wins and one draw.
"I needed a new challenge because I never started playing football for money, it was because I enjoyed being on the pitch," Matic told The Times. "I wanted to play more, so once I had the call from Jose, I was quite sure I made the right decision."
Although he's now left Old Trafford, Matic was impressed by the club's decision to appoint Erik ten Hag. That remains a gamble, as the Dutchman had never managed a first-team squad outside of his homeland following spells with Go Ahead Eagles, Utrecht and Ajax.
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Yet he did have a spell coaching Bayern Munich's second team during Pep Guardiola's time at the Bavarian club and enjoyed plenty of success at Ajax, winning six trophies - including three Eredivisie titles - while playing an eye-catching brand of football.
United's appointment of Ten Hag is going well, although it's too early to say whether it is the right decision. He's won five of his eight games in charge - including four consecutive victories in the Premier League - and appears to have found his strongest team.
Raphael Varane and Lisandro Martinez have formed a good partnership at centre-back - leaving captain Harry Maguire on the bench - and Tyrell Malacia has displaced Luke Shaw at left-back. Diogo Dalot, meanwhile, is continuing to impress at right-back.
Christian Eriksen built a reputation as a fine playmaker after spells with Ajax, Tottenham and Inter Milan, but Ten Hag has transformed the Dane into a central midfielder. He's become a key player for United, winning their Player of the Month award for September.
Ten Hag is also getting the best out of Marcus Rashford. The England international has played on the left of the front three in recent years but is flourishing as a centre-forward, scoring three goals and providing two assists in six Premier League games this season.
Matic added: "I see the way he wants to play and I think that’s the right way."
