According to a report, Nemanja Matic has opted to join Juventus this summer following his departure from Manchester United, according to a report.
The 33-year-old is one of five players definitely leaving Old Trafford in this summer’s transfer window. While Paul Pogba, Jesse Lingard, Juan Mata, and Edinson Cavani are out of contract, Matic has agreed to terminate his deal one year before expiry.
As a result, he will become a free agent at the end of the season. Until now, though, the future of the player had remained unclear.
According to the Daily Star Sunday, Matic has chosen to move to Turin with Serie A giants Juve.
The midfielder has opted for the chance to end his career with one final new experience. He has had two Premier League stints – the second with Chelsea – and also played in Portugal, the Netherlands, and his native Serbia.
The 48-cap international will subsequently play in Italy for the first time and could yet finish his career there.
The newspaper does not reveal the length of Matic's contract but does explain the financial details behind the move.
By terminating his United contract with one year left to run, the midfielder is losing out on a minimum of £6.25 million in wages without bonuses.
However, he will receive a £10 million signing-on bonus at Juve, which has made the transfer worthwhile.
What’s more, Matic will earn £90,000 per week in his new role in Italy.
Matic initially moved to England in 2009, when he signed for Chelsea. The Blues let him leave for Benfica, but former Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho sought the midfielder’s return to Stamford Bridge in 2014.
And when Mourinho moved on to Man Utd, he signed Matic again. The Serbian has therefore racked up 251 Premier League outings and 189 appearances overall for United.
Matic's exit factors into Man Utd's overhaul.
With Matic, Pogba, and Lingard leaving, there will consequently be gaps in midfield for the Red Devils to fill.
They should seriously consider keeping James Garner at the club following his recent progress.
The 21-year-old has starred on loan at Nottingham Forest for the past season and a half, earning rave reviews.
And he would fit in with United’s long-standing reputation for bringing through exciting academy talent.
Elsewhere, Monaco midfielder Aurelien Tchouameni is another target, as is Barcelona’s Frenkie de Jong, according to reports.
Either way, incoming manager Erik ten Hag has serious work to do if he wants to turn Man Utd around.
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