Mourinho never expected to land Matic, who was always his No.1 midfield target (Picture: Getty)

Manchester United boss Jose Mourinho has described the moment he was offered Nemanja Matic this summer, revealing his surprise at the midfielder’s sudden availability.

The Serbia international swapped Chelsea for Old Trafford in a £40 million deal this summer, with the Blues’ decision to sell a two-time title winner to a direct rival shocking everybody.

Mourinho, likewise, was amazed that Antonio Conte was prepared to lose Matic, but jumped at the opportunity to be reunited with a player he enjoyed such success with at Chelsea.

READ MORE: N’Golo Kante absence exposes Tiemoue Bakayoko and underlines Nemanja Matic mistake

Mourinho told Sky Sports News: ‘I was surprised when [Matic’s] agent called me to say “do you want him?”

‘I was surprised, but he’s an agent I know well. Normally he’s very direct and objective, he doesn’t waste time.

Matic has been a superb addition to the Man Utd midfield since his summer switch (Picture: Getty)

‘He doesn’t try to get people to be interested in his players to improve their situation at their club.

‘Normally he’s very straightforward, so when he told me “you can have him if you want”, of course I want.’

Matic has enjoyed an excellent start to his United career, becoming a mainstay of the midfield immediately and impressing in a number of high-profile games.

Chelsea’s midfield, meanwhile, has encountered a few problems recently, with Cesc Fabregas and Tiemoue Bakayoko struggling to fill in for the injured N’Golo Kante.

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