Nemanja Matic leaves door open for Benfica return as Man Utd midfielder admits Lisbon side are ‘always in the heart’
MANCHESTER UNITED midfielder Nemanja Matic opened the door to a potential return to Benfica after admitting the Portuguese side are ‘always in the heart’.
The Serbian hardman spent two-and-a-half years at the Lisbon side between 2011 and 2014 – either side of stints at old club Chelsea.
Matic said he is ‘very happy’ at Old Trafford and does not think about leaving but did not rule out a return to Portugal if his former side came knocking.
In an interview with Sport TV, the 32-year-old said: “I still don’t think about finishing my career. Let’s see.
“For me, Benfica was always in the heart. Let’s see what the future will bring.
“If Benfica ever thinks it needs me again, let’s think about it, but now I’m very happy at Man United, I don’t think about leaving, but in football you never know.
If Benfica ever thinks it needs me again, let’s think about it, but now I’m very happy at Man United, I don’t think about leaving, but in football you never know.”
Nemanja Matic
“If one day I return to Portugal, the only team I wanted to play in Portugal was Benfica.
“I was very happy there. Benfica is one of the best clubs in the world.
“I was very happy there in the team, with the fans and with everyone in the club.
“Whenever I have time, I like to go through Lisbon. My family also likes it a lot and misses everyone from Lisbon.”
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Matic is contracted at United until June 2023 after being handed a surprise new deal last summer following a resurgence under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.
He had previously been on the cusp of leaving after there had been no negotiations over an extension with his contract expiring at the end of the season.
Since joining from Chelsea in 2017, Matic has made 146 appearances for United in all competitions, scoring four goals.
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