Chelsea Confirm €25m Signing – Here’s How The New Man Will Fit In To Mourinho’s XI
With the January transfer window now open for business clubs will be working hard to try and strengthen their squad for the second half of the season, so we’ll keep you up-to-date with all the latest news, gossip and rumours. Today, Chelsea complete the signing of Nemanja Matic.
Image: London24
Chelsea confirmed the signing of Serbian international midfielder Nemanja Matic from Benfica on Wednesday evening.
The Blues officially announced the deal on Chelseafc.com, confirming the 25-year-old has signed a five-and-a-half-year contract and while they failed to disclose the exact amount they had paid, the BBC claim the figure is €25m (£21m).
It’s certainly a huge outlay for a player who was valued at around £3m just two-and-a-half years ago when he was used as a make-weight in the deal that saw David Luiz move to Stamford Bridge. However, Jose Mourinho clearly rates him highly and has wrapped up his first major piece of business in the January window.
Upon signing his contract, Matic told the clubs official website:
‘I am very happy for this opportunity to be back at this club. I feel very good because of that and just want to say I will give my best to help the team and make the Chelsea fans happy.’
Mourinho was also delighted to have brought the player back to west London, claiming he has developed during his time in Portugal and is now a ‘fantastic all-round midfielder’:
“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. I am sure he will become a very important member of the squad and help us to achieve our ambitions.’ Mourinho is quoted as telling Chelseafc.com
Matic has been handed the No.21 jersey and is expected to go straight into the squad to face Manchester United on Sunday. However, it remains to be seen whether he’ll start or be among the substitutes.
Long-term, the Serb is expected to become an integral part of Mourinho’s first team plans and is likely to replace 35-year-old Frank Lampard in the starting eleven. John Obi Mikel has only recently come back in to favour while Lampard has been out through injury, and with the Blues splashing out over £20m on him, you’d expect Matic will start ahead of the Nigerian the majority of the time.
So with that said, here’s a look at how Mourinho’s strongest eleven could look following the signing of Matic:
What do Chelsea fans think? Is this now your strongest eleven? Or should Frank Lampard still command a first team place? Give us your suggested line-ups below.
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abdu
January 15, 2014 at 8:14 pm
i think chelseas strongest lineup and the team that should be used for the man u match is: cech
azilicueta——-terry——————–cahill——————-cole
matic————ramires
willian———————=—-oscar———————-hazard
——————————-torres——————————-
Erudite robinson
January 15, 2014 at 8:31 pm
Matic shld replace lampard
Erudite robinson
January 15, 2014 at 8:33 pm
Wit matic m @ d center, i wil luv to c mata in d no10 role.
Fadeyi Paul
January 15, 2014 at 8:33 pm
Well to start with the starting 11 as side depends on the formation & tactics adopted by the manager Jose Mourinho, but still see A. Cole, Lampard & Mikel in the team as Cole has blocking goal bond balls, Lampard on his commanding football&Mikel marshalling the defensive part of it&as a cover up base on experience. While Nemanja and Ramires like to go forward, which has costed Man City so much these season, if not they would have been far ahead&would probably have won the league with 63points currently as against the lost points.
biggie
January 15, 2014 at 8:35 pm
I think it should be matic and mikel
ISAIAH
January 15, 2014 at 8:45 pm
Matic & ramires at d center
franklin
January 15, 2014 at 9:08 pm
Cech
Ivanovic. Luiz. Terry. Cole
MikeL. Matic. Ramirez
Oscar hazard
Toress
Alex
January 15, 2014 at 9:21 pm
Tink we can not rush matic on d team like dat.dat means we wl go back to. 4-3-3 .formation.bcos of matic
stephen
January 15, 2014 at 9:31 pm
In a 4-2-3-1 formation i wud prefer Cech, terry, cahill, azpillicuta, cole, matic, ramirez, hazard, willian, oscar n torres. However, in a 4-3-3 formation i wud deploy cech, terry, cahill, azpillicuta, cole, matic, ramirez, willian, hazard, oscar n torres
B-n nwanekwu nnanwa
January 15, 2014 at 9:37 pm
Welcome back boy, i wish you tlenty of medals up chelsea up roman empier up the only 1 up CJT, togethernes we grow.
Starlet
January 15, 2014 at 9:37 pm
Matic nd mikel @ d centre while mata willian hazardous hazard nd Torres upfront
OBASEKI
January 15, 2014 at 9:47 pm
I think we shoud wait and see what could come out of the formation ,but we need Mata.
Dan
January 15, 2014 at 9:48 pm
Hopefully we’ll see Mikel leave now as Matic is so much better than him (yet, who isn´t?). Mata instead of Willan a bit more often. However, new guys, this is a squad game and has been for years.
Monday G
January 15, 2014 at 9:55 pm
Cech,Azpilicueta,Terry,Cahil,Luiz,Mikel,Ramires,Williams,Hazard,Oscar,& Torres.Matic should come as a substitute during second -half in that he should be given enough time to settle down & watch the game atleast for first half before he starts the game.Mikel is still outstanding at the blues interms of giving accurate passes & quiding the ball to avoid interception.He’s one of the best players at the Bridge.He & other players must not let down due to the signing of a new player.
babatunde
January 15, 2014 at 10:00 pm
lampard should go on loan or be play 15minis…babatee
lsreal
January 15, 2014 at 10:01 pm
Cech$ liz JT cole$ mikel. Matic mata. Oscar hazard torres
lsreal
January 15, 2014 at 10:03 pm
Our no 2
Princewill CFC
January 15, 2014 at 10:03 pm
My 4mation should be 433:-) 🙂 🙂 Cech,
Ivan Cahill, Luiz, Azpl
Ramirez N. Matic
Mata
Willian Hazard
Torres
olaniyi
January 15, 2014 at 10:05 pm
Try it nd se dat na confirm! 300$ awuff swear, dollar4referral.com/login.php
Adebolu Bolutife
January 15, 2014 at 10:07 pm
Let see what Matic we show to us again, before will saying anything about him. Up Chelsea Up Blue
roman
January 15, 2014 at 10:13 pm
Ram+Luiz, Matic /Mikel subs depending the result of the gme!
Ihuman tersoo
January 15, 2014 at 10:23 pm
Up bluzzzz, u re wlcm matic
Ozorme kingsley
January 15, 2014 at 10:51 pm
I think that this is very good enough to face man utd.matic should start ahead of lampard lets see how it goes
soba
January 15, 2014 at 11:03 pm
no need rushing Matic to the team, let him watch for 70mins and then sub. Mikel and Rami are more than enough to face ManU
jacob karugaba
January 16, 2014 at 12:24 am
obviously matic is astarter
akerele akin
January 16, 2014 at 1:03 am
U ar right but prevention is better dan cure, let’s start matic nd lock up D game before its too late. We need stubborn mikel though•very slow…plays big man’s game
Adewumi
January 16, 2014 at 2:31 am
Mikel’s to improve his game if he wants to be in the startint 11
Adepoju damilola
January 16, 2014 at 3:16 am
My point of view is jose should best legs dat can bring gud,better nd best results.
Yemmy
January 16, 2014 at 5:59 am
I tink d selectn shld go dis way: cech,ivan,terry,luiz,azpi,ram,obi,wilian,oscar,eden,torres. Matic shld sub 4 ram. Bcos matic is an offensive playa.
udeme aduak
January 16, 2014 at 6:21 am
my 4mation against man u – cech ivan cahil terry azpi -d/m ramirez and luiz should start matic should come up on bench arround 60 munite attacker willian oscar hazard will shurle should rule 9 position we will dam them. Ta