Ranking the 3 best choices for Manchester United midfielder Nemanja Matic's next club

In the summer of 2017, several doubts were raised regarding then-Manchester United boss Jose Mourinho's interest in Chelsea's Nemanja Matic. The Serb, who was brought back to Chelsea by Mourinho upon the Portuguese's return to Stamford Bridge, was always someone he held in high regard and made it clear to the United board that he wanted a reunion with his beloved player. Ed Woodward and co. shelled out a relatively high fee of €44.70m on Matic to bring him to Old Trafford.

The idea was that Ander Herrera and Nemanja Matic could ideally 'unlock' Paul Pogba and provide him with defensive stability in midfield, helping him venture further forward. Though they finished 2nd in the 2017/18 season, the Red Devils were still a massive 19 points behind league winners Manchester City. Matic's stay in Manchester never took off after that one dominant season and it was evident that he had no future at the club post the sacking of his former coach. Now, he has 18 months to run down on his Old Trafford contract.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has largely utilised Matic as a second-string player, thrusting the likes of Scott McTominay and Fred in midfield ahead of the former SL Benfica man for crucial matches over the season. With the January transfer window just around the corner, could Matic push for a move away from Manchester United? If European reports are to be believed, that very well might be the case.

Here, we rank the 3 best choices for Nemanja Matic's next club.

3. Inter Milan

The first of two Italian clubs on this list, Inter Milan have reportedly been keeping tabs on the 31-year-old. Over the last few years, several Premier League players have sought a move to Italy after dire spells in England and have gone on to rebuild their careers in the Serie A. Players such as Wojciech Szczęsny, Chris Smalling, Lucas Leiva, Luis Alberto, and many more have revitalised themselves at some point in their careers.

A move of a similar nature could hugely benefit Matic. The pace of the Italian top-flight could suit the former Chelsea man better at this stage of his career and regular Champions League participation is another major pro. Additionally, his prior experience under current Inter coach Antonio Conte could bode well with both the manager and the player should this move materialise.

However, he could potentially face problems similar to what he's currently facing in Manchester with regard to a spot in their most preferred XI. Stefano Sensi has been hugely impressive since his move in the summer, Marcelo Brozovic is a staple in the XI for some time now and Nicola Barella was a recruitment that was insisted upon by Conte himself, leaving Matic in a potential conundrum.

With all three of these midfielders in their mid-twenties, it is hard to see Matic being an automatic starter or anything of the sort, barring injury crises or rotational changes.

In retrospect, with Matias Vecino rumoured to be on the transfer list and Roberto Gagliardini's failure to seal a spot for himself in the preferred line-up, the Serb could move with the intention of sharing the burden in midfield and be the experienced, leader-like figure that Inter lack in the defensive midfield area.

Also given that I Nerazzurri are making an effort to fight on all fronts, Matic could be involved regularly due to fixture congestion and for an extra layer of defensive solidity during crucial ties.

All in all, it could turn out to be a great move for the Machester United midfielder.

Also check out: Premier League Premier League Table Champions League table

2. AC Milan

A club that have appeared to be in a state of constant decline for nearly a decade now, AC Milan are still doing their utter best to reinstate their status as Champions League regulars but have, so far, only been met by failure. Yet, they go into the January transfer window with some sense of optimism in order to try and strengthen their squad. Nemanja Matic, as it happens to be the case, is reportedly one of the leading names on their wishlist.

What Matic could offer Milan under Stefano Pioli is simple: a commanding, physical presence in the #6 role to anchor the base of the midfield. The problem, though, is that Matic is nowhere close to being the no-nonsense defensive midfielder he once was, anchoring Chelsea to 2 Premier League titles.

Playing time wouldn't be as much of a concern as the Serbian midfielder would offer Milan's relatively young midfield duo of Ismael Bennacer and Franck Kessie a certain amount of protection as well as guidance off the pitch. This is also not considering the versatile yet injury-prone Giacomo Bonaventura's presence. Considering the inexperience there is in this Milan midfield, Matic could present a better option due to his experience.

With Lucas Paqueta said to be interesting Ligue 1 champions Paris Saint-Germain, Milan could replace the outgoing Brazilian with Matic and he could be the defensive midfielder that could help shore up Milan's porous backline.

Yet, considering that Milan are likely to offer Matic a bigger role should they register their interest in the player, they should do so at their own peril as this is a move that could backfire significantly, given the Serb's visible decline over the last few years.

From the player's perspective, though, it is a great move. Certainty about minutes on the pitch, a respectable role in the side and what is assumed to be a decent paycheck could tick all the right boxes.

Also read: Ligue 1 champions reportedly in talks for AC Milan's Lucas Paqueta

1. Atletico Madrid

Nemanja Matic moving to Atletico Madrid would essentially confirm his status as a second-string player, but also presents the best opportunity in terms of competing with the best teams for top honours. Atleti's current midfield options include the likes of Saul Niguez, Thomas Partey, Koke, Hector Herrera, and Marcos Llorente, and it is highly unlikely that Matic seals his spot in such a versatile midfield.

Stylistically, Matic's profile could be a valuable addition to Atletico Madrid. Because they like to sit deep, soak up the pressure and hit teams on the counter, the Manchester United man could be the figure they rely on to break up play and dominate aerial duels. Standing at 6'4", Simeone could utilise Matic's physicality to tighten up the defence and protect leads during the closing minutes of matches.

On the other hand, Partey has grown into his role as a deep-lying midfielder and ran the show in the middle on a number of occasions for Diego Simeone's side this season. Saul is one of the Argentine's crown jewels along with Koke, who form what is essentially the core of this midfield.

If Matic does decide to join Simeone's Atleti, it would be the clearest indication that Matic is willing to play a bit-part role in an athletic squad of players and would rather help facilitate younger players coming through the ranks. The last few years have also seen Atleti part ways with a number of experienced heads such as Diego Godin, Juanfran, Felipe Luis, Gabi and more. Matic's addition could help bring in some more experience to Simeone's squad, as could that of Edinson Cavani, who is reportedly set to join Los Rojiblancos on a 3-year-deal after his contract with Paris Saint-Germain expires.

Regardless of whether he will be a hit at the Wanda Metropolitano, make no mistake, Atletico Madrid will comfortably be the biggest project that Matic could land this late in his career especially given his rapid decline. Should this happen, he could be a stop-gap squad player in Atleti's quest for silverware for a reasonable transfer fee.

Edited by Kingshuk Kusari