Regret isn’t going to get Chelsea a discount. After already selling the Serbian a few years ago to Benfica, only to see him become one of the more promising young defensive midfielders in Europe, it seems like they’re doing their best to bring him back, and willing to spend quite a lot in order to bring him back.
The 24 year old had somewhat of a breakout season with 5 goals in 45 matches for the club, but it was mostly his ability to anchor the midfield as Benfica finished as runners-up in the league, Europa League and the Portuguese Cup. Despite his rise over the last couple of seasons, he refuses to play for the Serbian national team while Siniša Mihajlović is the coach, feeling he hasn’t been given the right opportunity from him.
Benfica aren’t really inclined to sell him, but according to A Bola Roman Abramovich has given Mourinho a free hand at spending for this player, and it looks like Benfica might find a match for their €40 million request. They aren’t in the business of letting go of their best players as they continue and try to topple the Porto rein at the top of Portuguese football, but for that kind of offer, Matic will most likely be headed back to England.
A tall, dominating figure, with a cracker of a left foot, Matic began his career playing for Kosice in Slovakia, getting picked up by Chelsea in 2009 for £1.5 million. He appeared only twice for the team in the two seasons he was there, loaned out to Vitesse in the Netherlands during the second season, before being sold to Benfica as part of the deal that brought David Luiz over to Stamford Bridge.
Two years later, like many Benfica players, Matic seems to have made great strides over the last couple of seasons in his ability to handle big matches and serious rivals. He played well against Chelsea in the Europa League final, which was probably the final convincing point needed for the club to go after him, regardless of the price.