Matic reveals surprising insights about Ronaldo’s second stint at Manchester United

Nemanja Matić transferred to Manchester United from Chelsea in 2017 and stood as one of the team’s most seasoned players when Cristiano Ronaldo made his comeback to Old Trafford in the summer of 2021.

Manchester United made a huge splash at the end of the 2021 summer transfer window by reuniting with Cristiano Ronaldo. Although time has shown this move to be a strategic mistake, at that moment, everyone was excited about the transfer.

Recently, in an interview with FourFourTwo, Nemanja Matić recalled his time playing alongside Ronaldo at Manchester United.

“I was very happy to share the dressing room with Ronaldo, to play alongside him and learn new things every day,” Matić told FourFourTwo. “The moment Ronaldo came back was truly special. You could really feel the pressure when he was on the pitch – I saw young players always trying to pass him the ball, even when it wasn’t the best option.”

“He is an incredible person, always positive. Ronaldo never wants to bring negative energy to the team, and maybe that’s what helped him achieve extraordinary success in his career. He might not be at his peak anymore, but I’m still very proud to have played alongside Cristiano Ronaldo.”, Matić added.

During his return to Old Trafford, Ronaldo played 40 Premier League matches over two seasons. However, when coach Erik Ten Hag took over, Ronaldo didn’t fit well into the high-pressing system. After a long period on the bench, Ronaldo caused another stir at Old Trafford, this time with a controversial interview with Piers Morgan.

Subsequently, Ronaldo and Manchester United terminated their contract and he moved to Al Nassr in the Saudi Pro League in 2022.

Now at 40 years old, Ronaldo is a prominent ambassador for Saudi Arabian football, frequently appearing alongside world leaders, most recently at the 2026 World Cup draw event. The Portugal captain holds numerous football records and has earned over 225 caps for his national team.

As for Nemanja Matić, the Serbian midfielder continues his professional career. At 37, he joined Sassuolo from Lyon during the summer transfer window and is regularly playing in Serie A under coach Fabio Grosso, the 2006 World Cup winner.