Analysing Nemanja Matic’s first performance in a Manchester United shirt in their win over Sampdoria

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After a long and drawn out transfer saga, Nemanja Matic finally donned the red of Manchester United for the first time on Wednesday. The Serbian played 45 minutes for the Red Devils only two days after signing, against Italian side Sampdoria.

Goals from Henrikh Mkhitaryan and Juan Mata either side of Dennis Praet’s strike ensured that Jose Mourinho’s men made it five wins out of seven in their final pre-season fixture.

Matic was the star of the show, though, and it showed. His tough tackling style and excellent reading were on display as he looked to sit deep and break up play before freeing the likes of Paul Pogba and Andreas Pereira either side of him. Henrikh Mkhitaryan also benefited as he sat just off Romelu Lukaku up-front.

The 29-year-old was clearly short on fitness, as was to be expected. Having stayed in London and not gone on tour with Chelsea, in order to seal a move to Old Trafford, these were his first minutes since the FA Cup final in May.

Speaking post-match, Mourinho praised Matic but highlighted the fact that he will need time to build fitness before slotting straight into the team. He is quoted by The Guardian as saying:

“He needs time but [his] experience, intelligence, a genius in the way he thinks – he thinks football. We will help him to be ready sooner rather than later.”

His intelligence was clear for all to see. That worked especially well in the 3-5-2 system deployed first half, as Matic was more than happy to provide cover for the marauding wing-backs Antonio Valencia and Matteo Darmian if either was caught out.

This may have been just his first appearance, but it was a promising one for Matic. Paul Pogba benefited from the freedom of the protection the Serbian international offered him, and that could be the key to success for Manchester United in 2017/18.