- 13 May 2024
Benfica boss explains why club won’t sign Man Utd midfielder Matic this summer
Stefan Bienkowski
- Updated: 17 May 2021 17:26 BST
- 5 min read
Benfica head coach Jorge Jesus has suggested that Manchester United midfielder Nemanja Matic would be an excellent addition to his squad but doesn’t think the club could afford to sign him this summer.
Matic recently got Benfica fans excited when he suggested that he could see his career leading him back to the Portuguese club before he retired.
Despite signing for Man Utd in 2017 for a fee believed to be around £40 million, Matic has struggled for game time this season in Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s team.
As such, rumours have begun to suggest that the Serbian international could be set to leave Old Trafford this summer.
However, while Jesus believes the 32-year-old midfielder is still an outstanding player, he’s skeptical that his club would have the finances to make the deal happen.
“Everyone knows he had excellent seasons at Benfica,” Jesus told A Bola.
“There are few players in the world at 1.90 metres with the technical capacity he has. That’s why Chelsea signed him and is now at Man United – and continues to play.
“I have now seen the game with Milan (in the Europa League). (He is) still in excellent athletic conditions and with technical quality.”
However, when asked about Matic returning to Benfica this summer, Jesus said: “It is very difficult to happen.
“Portuguese clubs do not have the capacity to hire players who represent the great teams in Europe.”
Will Matic leave Man Utd this summer?
While Benfica may be distancing themselves from signing the senior Serbian international, it still seems likely that Matic will leave Old Trafford this summer.
Unless Paul Pogba is sold and either Scott McTominay or Fred pick up a long-term injury between now and then, it’s unlikely that Matic’s role in the squad will improve and if the player has any desire to pick up more game time next season then a move probably makes sense.
With a contract at Man Utd until 2023, it’s unlikely that Matic will be allowed to leave for cheap but the club will probably be willing to listen to certain offers to get the senior player off their wage bill.
