MANCHESTER UNITED have exercised a one-year contract extension clause in Nemanja Matic’s contract.
The Serbian midfielder’s current deal had been set to expire in the summer.
And the 31-year-old had was widely expected to leave Old Trafford, having fallen out of favour earlier in the season.
According to Sky Sports, however, not only will Matic now be staying at the Theatre of Dreams for another year – but club chiefs are discussing a further new contract with the former Chelsea destroyer.
Matic appeared in only three of United’s first 19 Premier League games this term – with boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer preferring Scott McTominay as his midfield anchor.
But with the young academy graduate being struck by injury in the Boxing Day win over Newcastle, the door was opened for Matic to have another go in Solskjaer’s first XI.
And he has grabbed it with both hands, starting nine of the ten games since – providing an air of calm to the Red Devils’ engine room.
The latest of these appearances saw him start over the fit-again McTominay in Sunday’s Manchester derby triumph over rivals City.
Matic began the match alongside fellow resurgent midfielder Fred, as United produced one of their best performances under Solskjaer to secure the 2-0 victory.
Overall he has now made 22 appearances this season in all competitions, with his side sitting fifth in the Premier League and still in the FA Cup.
The 48-cap bruiser was signed from Chelsea in 2017 for around £40million, having won two Premier League titles at Stamford Bridge.
He has gone on to feature 109 times for the Red Devils under Jose Mourinho and now Solskjaer.
And with United having decided to keep Matic around, he will be hoping to add to his glistening trophy cabinet in the coming years at Old Trafford.
