Nemanja Matić Leaves Manchester United Training After Just 24 Minutes as Transfer Rumours Intensify
By Tom Gott
Manchester United midfielder Nemanja Matić left training on Wednesday after just 24 minutes, amid rumours he will be leaving the club in January.
Matić has made just five appearances this season and has often been omitted from Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's matchday squad altogether, with the boss preferring younger players like Scott McTominay and Andreas Pereira.
He has not been seen on the pitch since September, and that wait for a return to action looks set to continue. According to The Sun, Matić was at training for just 24 minutes on Wednesday, before leaving early.
The midfielder made a real show of his arrival at training, filming himself as he prepared for a day's work, so it suggests that he was not planning to walk away early.
The rest of the squad stayed behind to undergo a light training session ahead of Thursday's Europa League clash with Astana, although Solskjaer took it easy on a lot of his senior players to allow them to rest.
This came just days after Matić snubbed the chance to attend a charity gala at Old Trafford with the rest of his teammates. Instead, the midfielder opted to head for a meal with Wolverhampton Wanderers striker Patrick Cutrone.
While the reasons for Matić's absence from both training and the gala are currently unknown, it will certainly only intensify the speculation about his future at the club.
The 31-year-old will be out of contract at the end of the season. United do have the option to extend that by a further year, but it would come as an enormous surprise to see them do so.
Instead, he has been linked with a move to a number of different sides. Atlético Madrid and Inter are rumoured to be keen, while a reunion with former boss José Mourinho has dominated headlines since the Portuguese tactician arrived at Tottenham Hotspur.
90min understands that West Ham are also an option for Matić, who is open to a return to London.
His next destination is currently unclear, but all the signs suggest he will not be at Old Trafford for much longer. There does not appear to be a role for him at the club these days, so United will likely try to cash in in January, before he can walk away for free in the summer.