Benfica uninterested in re-signing Manchester United star Nemanja Matic

Benfica have reportedly turned down the chance to re-sign former midfielder Nemanja Matic, who will leave Manchester United at the end of the season.

According to Portuguese publication Correio de Manha (h/t Sport Witness), Benfica have turned down an opportunity to sign Manchester United midfielder Nemanja Matic in the upcoming summer transfer window.

Matic spent two and a half years at Benfica after he joined the Portuguese giants from Chelsea in the summer of 2011, only to return to Stamford Bridge in January 2014. He enjoyed plenty of success in his second spell at Stamford Bridge before ending up at Manchester United in the summer of 2017. 

Matic has been a reasonably solid performer for Manchester United, although the veteran midfielder has seen his status within the squad decline over the past couple of seasons. Indeed, the 33-year-old was used very sparingly by former manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, although the Serbian did find favour under interim boss Ralf Rangnick.

Matic’s contract with Manchester United ran until the summer of 2023. But the midfielder and the club have agreed to part ways at the end of the ongoing season, with the report claiming that he could be available for as little as €6 million. The veteran midfielder recently confirmed his decision to move on from Old Trafford at the end of the season, and there has been no shortage of suitors for him.

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The early interest has mostly come from Italy, where AS Roma are keen on reuniting Matic with Jose Mourinho, while Juventus are also touted as a possible destination. 

Matic’s availability on a bargain seemingly alerted Benfica director Lourenco Pereira Coelho, who proposed the possibility to club manager Roger Schmidt. However, the Portuguese giants’ head coach shot down the suggestion as he has no intention to sign the Manchester United veteran in the upcoming window.

With a return to Benfica potentially being ruled out, Matic could most likely be headed to Rome, with Mourinho admitting that he and the Serb share a special relationship. It remains to be seen where the 33-year-old ends up come next season as he prepares to say goodbye to Manchester United.