Chelsea manager Antonio Conte refused to confirm the transfer of Nemanja Matic to Manchester United when quizzed by Metro.
Jose Mourinho has been keen on a reunion with the Serbia international, having worked with him at Chelsea in the title triumph in 2015.
Matic was left out of Chelsea preseason tour in Asia and spotted training alone in London during the time. With his heart set on leaving the club this summer following the departure of Tiemoue Bakayoko from Monaco, Matic has attracted interest from Juventus and Man United.
The midfielder has been heavily linked to Manchester United in recent weeks with reports rife during the weekend he has completed a medical at the Red Devils’ base in Carrington.
Conte denies knowing any details about the detail and told Metro reporters to ask the Chelsea top officials.
I don’t know nothing about this. You have to ask the club.
If Conte know anything about this deal – which is very likely, being manager of the club – he is pointing at something here.
Indications could be that he is not in support of strengthening a rival club with a player of that quality and may have preferred Matic was sold to a foreign club.
Matic is a double Premier League winner having helped Conte and his charges lift the title last season, playing alongside N’Golo Kante.
He clearly was not a favorite going into next season and was perhaps told by the Italian manager his services were not needed, but Conte’s comments concerning the Matic transfer speaks volumes of his discontent at the player join Man United when other foreign clubs like Juventus showed interest.
