Nemanja Matic has said he is happy to once again be working with Jose Mourinho after signing for AS Roma on a one-year contract.
Matic’s move to the Serie A side was confirmed on Tuesday, marking the third time the Serbian has signed for the Portuguese manager.
The defensive midfielder first played under Mourinho after re-joining Chelsea in 2014, winning the Premier League in their first season together.
After another title win at Stamford Bridge in 2017, this time under Antonio Conte, Matic signed for Mourinho’s Manchester United, but the pair were unable to repeat the same trick and the manager was sacked the following season.
Matic stayed at Old Trafford until this summer but ended his five-year spell without picking up any silverware, however the 33-year-old hopes that it’s third time lucky after joining Roma on a free transfer.
‘I am pleased and honoured to be joining this club and I cannot wait to start the new season with my teammates,’ he said upon signing.
‘Roma is a big club, with amazing fans and a coach, Jose Mourinho, who everyone knows I worked with before.
‘We have a good connection and that made the decision to come here very straightforward.
‘It is not always easy to work with him! It is hard but he is a winner, and that is exactly what I want in a coach. I like to win, and he is a winner, and he translates that into his players.
‘I hope that by working together we are able to achieve some great things.’
Tiago Pinto, Roma’s General Manager spoke highly of Matic at his unveiling, saying: ‘Nemanja brings with him to Roma not just a lot of quality on the pitch, but the vast experience he has gained from so many seasons in the Premier League and a focus and mentality that has consistently set him apart throughout his career.
‘The enthusiasm he showed at the prospect of joining our project was hugely encouraging and I am sure that will serve as a starting point for a very productive journey for all of us.’
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