Disappointing and unstable - Former Chelsea star reveals how Italian club treated him

Former Chelsea and Manchester United midfielder Nemanja Matic has lifted the lid on his turbulent spell at AS Roma, accusing the Italian club of breaking promises and failing to show him the respect he deserved.

Now playing for Sassuolo, the Serbian veteran reflected on what he described as a “disappointing and unstable” experience during his single season at Roma in 2022–23, despite joining largely because of his relationship with then-manager Jose Mourinho.

Speaking to Sky Sport Italia, Matic revealed that he initially turned down Roma’s offer due to its short-term nature but was persuaded after personal conversations with Mourinho and reassurances from the club.

“When I chose Roma and left Manchester United, I accepted a one-year contract even though I had other teams,” Matic said.

He continued, “At first, I wasn’t willing to accept because they only offered one year. Then I spoke to Mourinho, and in the end, I chose Roma for him and for the fans. They told me we’d sign a contract extension in January, but no one ever showed up.”

The 37-year-old midfielder went on to claim that Roma failed to honour agreements regarding an automatic contract renewal based on his performances.

“I was told I’d get an automatic renewal if I played at least 50 per cent of the games, but that wasn’t the deal we made the previous summer. I felt like I was constantly on trial, under scrutiny. I deserved respect,” he continued.

Despite his frustrations, Matic praised the Roma fans for their unwavering support during his stay in the Italian capital.

“I wasn’t the problem; the problem was with the people who made promises they didn’t keep. I lacked stability, but I didn’t lack love from the fans, who respected me more than the club,” he said.

The Serbian midfielder featured 50 times for Roma across all competitions, including 13 starts in the Europa League and 16 in Serie A, before leaving the club in 2023.