BBC Sport pundit Garth Crooks has slammed Antonio Conte for sanctioning the sale of Nemanja Matic to Manchester United in the summer.
As quoted by the Evening Standard, the pundit spoke of his confusion regarding Chelsea’s decision to offload Matic to the Red Devils in a reported £40 million deal.
Can anyone explain why Antonio Conte sold Matic to one of his main rivals? I didn’t understand it at the time and it makes even less sense to me now. Against Brighton the Serbia international was imperious.
The move was one that many were left confused by given Matic’s key role in the Chelsea midfield in recent seasons. The sale of the Serbian international has been made to look all the more unnecessary given the shortcomings of his replacement Tiemoue Bakayoko this season.
Crooks was quick to criticise Conte for allowing the deal to go through, however, the Blues boss did previously imply when asked about the sale that he did not have too big a say in the decision to offload Matic.
Matic is not a star and refuses to crave the limelight in the same manner as Paul Pogba for example – although there is nothing wrong with that if you are performing.
However Matic joining United has left Chelsea, and more importantly Conte, exposed and placed United in a much more favourable position. Exceptionally poor judgement by Conte.
The experienced midfielder has since been a big hit with United, flourishing under former Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho.
