Former Chelsea midfielder Nemanja Matic has been rewarded with a new contract at Manchester United, the club have confirmed.
Matic is one of several United players to have improved their form this year, leading to a 16-game unbeaten run.
Nemanja Matic Rewarded With New Contract
Fresh Extension
Manchester United had taken up their option to extend Matic’s contract by one-year – to 2021 – a few months ago. However, he has now committed to a further two-year extension, keeping him at the club until 2023.
Matic’s future at Old Trafford was in doubt toward the end of 2019, those doubts have now been put to bed.
Several Italian clubs had been interested in signing Matic, as well as, Spanish giants Atletico Madrid. The La Liga side were previously keen to sign him on a pre-contract. Matic, though, preferred to stay in England.
He wants to be a reference point for the future of Manchester United.
Important for United
Matic’s upturn in form has led to him becoming a crucial member of the starting line-up.
The Serbian midfielder provides security for United’s defensive line and freedom for the likes of Bruno Fernandes and Paul Pogba to be on the front foot.
He has proven himself to be Manchester United’s best midfield option for the sitting role. In doing so, Matic has earned a fresh contract extension.
Nemanja Matic joined the Red Devils in 2017. Then part of familiar manager Jose Mourinho’s plan to revive Manchester United to the top of the game – a plan that clearly didn’t work out.
Though it doesn’t mean Matic isn’t a good fit for United, his form in 2020 specifically suggests otherwise.
Matic has made 114 appearances in United red, just 40 appearances short of the amount he made for Chelsea, the club he has appeared for the most in his career. Over the next three years, you might expect him to close that gap.
Lack of Silverware
Matic joined Mourinho’s regime after the successful League Cup and Europa League campaign. As such, he is yet to touch any silverware during his time in Manchester.
Though recent performances do hint that success could be around the corner, if United invest adequately.
The Serbian did pick-up the club’s goal of the season award in 2017/18, for a stunning strike at Crystal Palace‘s Selhurst Park.
That’s something Matic has in his locker, though doesn’t show as much as one would enthuse. That said, when the ship is sailing, he does more than enough to aid the team on the course to victory.
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