Former Manchester United midfielder Nemanja Matic scores first goal for AS Roma

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Former Manchester United midfielder Nemanja Matic scored his first goal for AS Roma to rescue a point for Jose Mourinho’s side against Torino.

The 34-year-old joined the I Giallorossi on a free transfer following the expiry of his contract at Old Trafford.

Erik ten Hag tried to convince Matic to stay at Manchester United for another year, according to the Athletic.

But the Serbian triggered an exit clause in his contract and was signed by Mourinho for the third time in his career.

In yesterday’s Serie A clash against Torino, which saw Mourinho sent to the stands for dissent, at the Stadio Olympico, Matic scored a 94th-minute equaliser from distance to rescue a point for Roma.

After Paulo Dybala’s effort came back off the bar, Roma’s number eight smashed the ball from distance and his effort squirmed past Torino stopper Vanja Milinkovic-Savic who had a spell with Manchester United from 2014 to 2016, but he never played a game for the club.

Nemanja Matic scores first goal for AS Roma

Matic, who made 189 appearances for Manchester United after arriving at Old Trafford in 2017, has made 20 appearances for the Eternal City side since making the switch to Italy.

Roma currently sit seventh in Serie A, three points off the Champions League places, heading into the winter break for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.

While Erik ten Hag’s side were drawn against Barcelona in the Europa League play-off, Mourinho’s Roma, who won last season’s inaugural UEFA Conference League, will face Red Bull Salzburg who like the Catalan giants finished third in their Champions League group.

Matic hasn’t been called-up to the Serbia squad for the World Cup because he’s retired from international football.