Mourinho: Matic wants to join United very, very much

Jose Mourinho says he is “waiting for news” on Nemanja Matic’s move to Manchester United. Photo: EPA

Jose Mourinho says he is “waiting for news” on Nemanja Matic’s move to Manchester United. Photo: EPA

Published Jul 30, 2017

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LONDON – Manchester United are on the verge of signing Serbia midfielder Nemanja Matic from Chelsea in a £40 million deal, according to reports on Sunday.

United manager Jose Mourinho has been keen to take Matic from his former club for over a year, and it appears the deal is finally set to go through.

Having failed to land Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Eric Dier, Mourinho turned to Matic as the man to fill the holding role in United’s midfield, and the 28-year-old is said to have undergone a medical on Sunday.

United have yet to officially confirm the signing, but reports that a deal was imminent came after a picture of Matic in the club’s training kit was leaked on social media.

“I’m waiting for news. I know that he wants that very, very much, and when a player wants that very, very much, the chance is bigger, the chance is bigger,” Mourinho told the Manchester Evening News (MEN) after United defeated Valerenga of Norway 3-0 in a pre-season friendly in Oslo.

📸 @Fellaini in full flight. #MUTOUR pic.twitter.com/OvzmttI2Mn

— Manchester United (@ManUtd) July 30, 2017

“So I think we have a chance, but in football, until it’s official, I saw so many things happen that I refuse to say more than I am telling you now.”

Talks between United and Chelsea over a fee have taken some time, with the clubs initially substantially apart over the price.

Mourinho also signed Matic from Benfica when he was in charge at Chelsea in January 2014.

Matic would be Mourinho’s third close-season purchase after the £31 million capture of Benfica defender Victor Lindelof and the British record £75m signing of Everton striker Romelu Lukaku.

Jose Mourinho: “I am satisfied. It was a good pitch and our opponents were well organised. Now, a little rest before the Sampdoria match." pic.twitter.com/HtUL11iBaF

— Manchester United (@ManUtd) July 30, 2017

The United manager played down the significance of the photos showing Matic dressed in a club training kit.

“I don’t know because I was not there. Number 31 is a free number. It was (Bastian) Schweinsteiger’s. It’s a free jersey, we have a few free, and 31 is one of them.”

The photo of Nemanja Matic in Manchester United training kit that was leaked on social media on Sunday.

United are reported to be ready to recoup some of the Matic fee by selling Belgium midfielder Marouane Fellaini to Turkish club Galatasaray.

However, Mourinho told the MEN that Fellaini is not for sale.

“It’s easier for Galatasaray to get me than Marouane. If they need a manager, they have a chance, but Marouane? Forget it,” he told reporters.

Fellaini was on the score-sheet in Norway on Sunday, as were Lukaku and Scott McTominay.

AFP

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