Man Utd news: Chelsea sold Nemanja Matic to Jose Mourinho because of N’Golo Kante

Matic helped Manchester United cruise to a 2-0 victory over Benfica last night, with the Red Devils clocking up a fourth Champions League win from as many games.

Kante, meanwhile, was forced to watch from the sidelines as Chelsea slumped to a shocking 3-0 defeat to Roma last night.

The Blues’ inconsistent form has led to many to pinpoint Matic’s move to Old Trafford as one of the main reasons why.

And Sky Sports claim that Kante’s form for Chelsea last season was one of the reasons they allowed the Serbia international to reunite with Jose Mourinho at Manchester United.

Mourinho spent the summer pursuing the player, despite the two enduring a rocky relationship while at Stamford Bridge.

And, surprisingly, Chelsea were willing to do business.

Matic thrived alongside Kante last term as the Blues won the Premier League title in Antonio Conte’s first season in charge.

And Sky Sports report that, with Kante so impressive, Chelsea were more than happy to let the Serbia international leave. 

Meanwhile, former United star Phil Neville has blasted the Blues’ decision to allow Matic to go.

"What's gone wrong for Chelsea? One word. Matic," Neville told BBC 5Live. 

"It's as simple as that. The minute they sold Nemanja Matic was a mistake.

"When you had Matic sat in front of you, alongside [N'Golo] Kante, there was protection. 

“Whoever made that decision needs sacking. That is one of the poorest decisions I have ever seen in the Premier League.

"If you ask any of those Chelsea players who they would want back, they would say Matic.

“Chelsea replaced him with someone who is going to do the same job – [Tiemoue] Bakayoko is not that player, he is not a holding midfield player.

"They didn't replace Matic. I wouldn't have let him out of the building, I would have chained him to the training ground walls."