Chelsea sign Slovenia's Nemanja Matic

18 August 2009 15:05
The 21-year-old, who has two caps for Serbia, has penned a four-year contract at Stamford Bridge. Kosice president Blazej Podolak confirmed that the transfer fee for Matic was 1.75 million euros. The 6ft 4in midfielder joins compatriot Branislav Ivanovic at Chelsea. He said: "I know a lot about Chelsea, I have been following them. "I play together with Branislav in the national team and have spoken to him about Chelsea. The first time when I met him to play in the national team I asked a couple of questions." He added: "I am a solid midfielder, I have a lot to offer and for sure to progress and I will show everyone why I am at Chelsea. "I am a central midfielder and I know I am not well known but I have physical power and I am quite a technical, left-footed player." Matic also revealed he had a trial at Middlesbrough in January. He added: "I was there in the winter, when I came it was winter in the north of England so it was not very nice, but the squad was okay and I liked it." Podolak said: "The success was down to the the fact that the money does not come in instalments, but immediately." Meanwhile, Werder Bremen have re-signed striker Claudio Pizarro from Chelsea. The Peruvian has returned at the Weserstadion after enjoying a successful loan spell there last term. A statement on Chelsea's official website read: "Claudio Pizarro has today signed a permanent deal with Werder Bremen. All at the club wish Claudio well for the future." Pizarro, who also spent two years at Bremen earlier in his career, helped them win the DFB Pokal and reach the final of the Uefa Cup. Bremen ended in a disappointing 10th place in the league, but Pizarro impressed with 17 goals. The 30-year-old returned to Stamford Bridge at the end of the campaign, but appeared to have little chance of first-team football with Nicolas Anelka, Didier Drogba and Salomon Kalou for competition. Pizarro, who did not feature in boss Carlo Ancelotti's squad for their opening 2-1 win over Hull on Saturday, reportedly flew to Bremen last night to seal the transfer. Pizarro joined Chelsea in summer 2007 on a free transfer from Bayern Munich. He scored on his debut for the Blues, but soon found himself out of the picture as the manager who signed him, Jose Mourinho, left the club, while Anelka was recruited the following January. Bremen, meanwhile, have been desperate to add to their attacking options, having lost influential Brazilian Diego to Juventus.

Source: Telegraph