SERBIA: Chelsea has re-signed Serbia midfielder Nemanja Matic on a five and a half-year contract from Portuguese giants Benfica on Wednesday, the two clubs announced.
“I am very happy for this opportunity to be back at this club,” the 25-year-old Matic told Chelsea’s website on Wednesday.
Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho, whose side is two points behind Premier League leaders Arsenal, added: “I am very pleased that Nemanja is returning to Chelsea.
“He has grown as a player in Portugal and has become a fantastic all-round midfielder,” the Portuguese boss added. “I am sure he will become a very important member of the squad and help us to achieve our ambitions.”
The transfer window move was completed just a day after Portugal’s A Bola sports daily quoted Matic saying: “Now is a good time to leave. I want to improve, I want to play in a better league and I want to go to Chelsea.”
Matic made his Chelsea debut aged 21 during a 4-0 league victory against Wolverhampton Wanderers, and also featured in the title-clinching final-day 8-0 win over Wigan in 2010.
During the 2012/13 season Matic was named Portugal’s player of the month on three occasions and played in all but one of Benfica’s matches on their way to the Europa League final, where they were beaten 2-1 by Chelsea in Amsterdam.
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