AS Roma head coach José Mourinho has been taken aback by Nemanja Matić’s (35) decision to leave the Italian capital for Rennes. The Portuguese boss and the Serbian midfielder go way back. The 35-year-old was coached by Mourinho at three different clubs – Chelsea FC, Manchester United and then Roma. Despite entering his final year of contract with the Giallorossi, the three-time Premier League winner with the Blues (2010, 2015 and 2017) decided that he wanted to pursue his career in Brittany.
As reported by Foot Mercato, the former Real Madrid and Manchester United manager has vented his anger at Matić and Stade Rennais for the manner in which the transfer was conducted. “What do I think of mister Matić? I think he should be the one to talk, if he wants to do so“, quipped Mourinho in his pre-game press conference on Saturday. “After hearing Rennes Sporting director, Mister Maurice, I think there’s nothing more to know. They talked to each other for a month, negotiating, nothing more to be added.“
Mourinho added that he was relying on Matić for the 2023-24 Serie A season, with AS Roma also set to compete in the Europa League group stage – where they may face Stade Rennais. “We were not expecting mister Matić to leave. Matić played 50 games for us last season, he was an important player for us“, the Portuguese said. With the Serbian leaving AS Roma, the Serie A side had to dip in the transfer market for midfield reinforcements. They eventually signed PSG midfielders Leandro Paredes and Renato Sanches – the latter on loan only.
GFFN | Bastien Cheval
