Matic confirms Benfica Exit Ahead Of Chelsea Move

14 January 2014 17:00

Benfica midfielder Nemanja Matic has confirmed his return to Chelsea whilst speaking to Portuguese paper A Bola.

The Serb, who has now emerged as one of Europe's top midfielders, spent two years at Stamford Bridge before departing in 2011 as make-weight for the transfer of David Luiz.

Reports in Portugal claim that Chelsea will pay around £25million for the Serb, and also send winger Gael Kakuta to the Estadio da Luz on loan.

Speaking to A Bola, Matic said : "The game against FC Porto was my last game for Benfica.

"I want to thank everyone at the club and all the fans. Benfica will forever be in my heart.

"I played here for two-and-a-half years, gave my best at every training session, and now it is the right moment to leave.

"I want to improve, I want to play in a better league and I want to go to Chelsea, a club I also love.

"I would also like to thank Benfica's president, he did everything he could to keep me, but I wanted to leave.

"I insisted on leaving because I think this is the right moment."

 

Source: DSG