Jose Mourinho is set to sign Nemanja Matic for the third time in a bid to work with another of his former Manchester United stars.
The 33-year-old confirmed that he would be leaving Old Trafford shortly before the end of the season, having made 16 Premier League starts last term. Despite boasting the option of one more campaign on his contract, Matic decided to make 2021-22 his fifth and final in Manchester and is now on the verge of a second reunion with Mourinho at Roma after the Portuguese first signed him for Chelsea eight years ago.
Sky Italia report that the Serbian has agreed a one-year deal with the Giallorossi, with an option for a further year depending on how many appearances he makes at the Stadio Olimpico in a move which has been described by reports in Italy as 'most predictable'. Mourinho has already worked with two ex-Red Devils in Chris Smalling and Henrikh Mkhitaryan at Roma, having also been linked with signing two current players, right-back duo Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Diogo Dalot.
Mourinho and Matic won the 2015 Premier League title together in their one and only full season at Chelsea, having poached the midfielder from Benfica. Two years later, once 'the Special One' had completed his first trophy-laden term at Old Trafford, Mourinho signed him for £40million.
Back in May after it was announced that Matic would be on the move, Mourinho admitted: "Everyone knows my relationship with Nemanja. He's one of the guys with my trust. We won together, we fought together – in United too. He's a fantastic player, but that's a kind of answer that is not good for me or for the player."
Following 189 appearances for United, none of which saw him win a trophy, Matic said goodbye to the Theatre of Dreams by saying: "After a great deal of thought, I have decided that this season will be my last with Manchester United. I have informed the board, the manager [then Ralf Rangnick ] and the players of my decision.
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"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 team-mates finish as strongly as possible."
Last month, the 47-capped Serbia international issued an update on his future and declared to K1 Televizija, via the Manchester Evening News : "The options are still open. But what is certain is that this is my last season at United and I want to finish it in the best possible way. We have another game on May 22, and after that I will make a decision where I will continue my career."
