Manchester United midfielder Nemanja Matic is reportedly considering a January exit from Old Trafford in search of regular football.
According to a report by Manchester Evening News, Nemanja Matic is open to the prospect of leaving Manchester United in the January transfer window. The Serbian midfielder wants to garner regular game time ahead of the UEFA European Championships, with Serbia in contention to make the finals next summer.
Matic joined Manchester United from rivals Chelsea in the summer of 2017 and immediately went on to become an indispensable figure under Jose Mourinho. In fact, the Serb played a key role as the Red Devils finished second in the Premier League, in what has been their best top-flight campaign in the post-Sir Alex Ferguson era.
But, in his second season with Manchester United, there was a visible drop in mobility, which made it easy for the opposition to overrun him in midfield. And, ever since the arrival of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, the veteran midfielder has gradually dropped in stature. So much so, that the Serb had reportedly indulged in showdown talks with the Manchester United boss over his future.
The start of this season has seen the 31-year-old become a bit-part player, largely only featuring due to the injury-enforced absence of Paul Pogba. Matic has started just two Premier League games so far for Manchester United and has been sidelined for the last few weeks with an unspecified injury.
With Scott McTominay being preferred as the holding midfielder by Solskjaer, Matic now remains a backup at best. And, his situation has piqued the interest of several clubs, with Inter Milan keen on swooping him away from Manchester United in the January transfer, as per widespread reports.
It has now emerged that Matic is pondering over a winter departure from Old Trafford, with his role in the Manchester United first-team setup bothering him. With one eye on the 2020 UEFA Euro, where Serbia could feature, the experienced midfielder is eager to secure regular football in order to remain sharp for next summer’s finals.
As a result, a move away from Manchester United could be a possibility for Matic, heading into the January transfer window. The Premier League heavyweights are open to the idea of cashing in on the player, whose departure could pave the way for a winter midfield acquisition.
If not, chances are the Red Devils could allow him to leave on a free transfer next summer, just like they did with Antonio Valencia in the previous window. What now remains to be seen is if any suitors make a concrete move for the Serb at the turn of the year, or if he stays puts at Manchester United.
