Skip to main content

Tottenham could face competition from Atletico Madrid for Manchester United midfielder Nemanja Matic

Nemanja Matic

Atletico Madrid are set to rival Jose Mourinho and Tottenham for the signature of Nemanja Matic, according to reports.

The Serbia international has fallen out of favour under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer this season, making just five appearances in all competitions.

Milan have been linked with a move for the former Chelsea man since last summer, and the midfielder remains a target for the Serie A side.

But according to ESPN, Atletico will challenge Spurs for the Serb’s signature as Diego Simeone seeks additional options in the centre of the park.

Matic, who joined Manchester United from Chelsea for £40m in the summer of 2017, is out of contract at Old Trafford at the end of the season.

Scott McTominay, Andreas Pereira and Fred have been preferred by Solskjaer, while Paul Pogba’s return from injury will only increase the competition for places.

Long read: The making of Jose Mourinho – how did he go from 'the translator' to 'the Special One’?

For Jose Mourinho to prove he is not an anachronism in the modern game, he’ll have to turn back the clock at Tottenham

Mauricio Pochettino’s Tottenham really did prove that trophies are not the only measure of success

Greg Lea

Greg Lea is a freelance football journalist who's filled in wherever FourFourTwo needs him since 2014. He became a Crystal Palace fan after watching a 1-0 loss to Port Vale in 1998, and once got on the scoresheet in a primary school game against Wilfried Zaha's Whitehorse Manor (an own goal in an 8-0 defeat).