Why Matic left Roma after just one year: ‘Fans respected me more than the club did’ | OneFootball

Sassuolo midfielder Nemanja Matic has explained why he spent just one season in Serie A with Roma in 2022-23, accusing the Giallorossi of breaking promises and lacking respect: ‘I felt like I was constantly on trial’.

Matic angry with Roma: ‘I felt like I was constantly on trial’

The former Chelsea and Manchester United midfielder is still going strong in Serie A at the age of 37, following two years in Ligue 1 with Rennes and Lyon since his Roma departure in the summer of 2023.

In the summer of 2022, Matic left Manchester United after five years at the end of his contract, and decided to join Roma on a free transfer.

He penned a one-year contract at the Stadio Olimpico, and has since claimed that he turned down much longer contract proposals in order to join the Giallorossi. Matic has also claimed that there was a promise that his contract would be extended after just a few months if performances were solid enough.

Speaking in an interview with La Gazzetta dello Sport, Matic has explained why his time with Roma remains a bit of a sore spot.

“When I left Manchester United, I chose Roma to join a project where I could stay for at least a couple of years,” Matic explained.

“I received some interesting offers with three-year proposals, and I was already getting on a bit. Then came the offer from Roma and Mourinho.

“At first I didn’t want to go because the offer was only for one year. Then I spoke with Mourinho, with my agent. I chose Roma for him especially, for the fans. I was told ‘sign, and if things go well, we’ll talk about a renewal as early as January’.

Matic went on to explain that the aforementioned contract extension never came through.

ISTANBUL, TURKEY – JANUARY 23: Nemanja Matic of Olympique Lyonnais warms up prior to the UEFA Europa League 2024/25 League Phase MD7 match between Fenerbahce SK and Olympique Lyonnais at on January 23, 2025 in Istanbul, Turkey. (Photo by Ahmad Mora/Getty Images)

“At the beginning, with my family, we didn’t have the right stability. In my opinion, I played well and was doing okay. But in January, nobody knocked on my door. I tried to get in contact, and I was told that if I played more than 50% of the games, I would have been given an automatic renewal, but that wasn’t what we’d agreed the previous summer.

“I had this feeling like I was constantly on trial, but I was an experienced player, I deserved more respect and in February, I told the club that I would give my best until the end of the season to take the team as far as possible. I think I always gave my best. Then, at the end of the season, I decided to leave.

“The problem was the people promised things and didn’t come good. I lacked stability and didn’t feel good about that. I did my best, I felt the support of the fans, who respected me more than the club did. Rennes came knocking, offering a three-year contract, which meant more stability.”