Nemanja Matic: “Roma did not respect me.” | OneFootball

Former Roma midfielder Nemanja Matic – now at Sassuolo – spoke out against the capital club in a recent interview with Sky Sport.

Having played only one full season at Roma in 2022-23, the Serbian player explained his abrupt decision to depart the club and join Rennes in the summer of 2023.

“I have to start from the beginning: when I chose Roma and left Manchester United to join a project where I could stay at least a couple of years. I had received interesting offers with three-year contracts, and I was no longer very young.”

“Then Mourinho’s offer for Roma arrived, and at first I didn’t want to accept because it was for a year. Afterwards, I spoke with Mourinho, with his agent… especially for him, for the club, and for the fans, I chose Roma, and they told me: ‘Sign, and if everything goes well, we’ll talk about the renewal in January.'”

“At the beginning, it wasn’t easy. Even with my family, we didn’t have the necessary stability. I chose Roma above all for José. I think I played well and I was happy. In January, no one knocked on my door.”

“I contacted them personally and they told me that if I played more than 50% of the games, I would automatically renew, but that didn’t happen. It was something we had agreed the previous summer. So I felt constantly on trial, but I was and am an experienced player, deserving of greater respect, and in February I told the club that I would give everything until the end of the season to take the team as far as possible, but I would leave the following season.”

“I think I’ve always given my all for everyone, and at the end of the season they already knew the decision, so I decided to leave. The problem was the people who promised something and didn’t deliver. I lacked stability and I didn’t feel comfortable with that feeling. I did my best and I felt good. I felt the affection of the fans, who respected me more than the club.”