The more the days pass, the more the crack grows between Stade Rennais and Matic. After expressing his desire to leave Brittany, the Serbian midfielder was absent during the last training sessions scheduled by Julien Stéphan and his staff, without the authorization of the club. A situation which greatly displeased internally and which led Rennes to react with a press release, offensive to say the least.
“Nemanja Matić, midfielder of Stade Rennais FC, did not show up for the last training sessions of the professional group to which he was summoned. This behavior is completely incomprehensible from an experienced player under contract until 2025,” we can read on the club website.
Uncomfortable in Brittany, the former Serbian international regrets on the one hand that his children cannot follow an international course as was agreed at the time of his signing. On the other hand, he would not have appreciated having been left out of the team before a match in Toulouse (0-0, December 17) due to being late for the chat. Privately, he also does not hide the fact that the results do not really correspond to the ambitions which were his at the time of his signing last summer.
“Naturally sensitive to the personal well-being of its players, the club intends to recall that all the arrangements necessary for the good integration of Nemanja Matić and his entourage have been carried out in perfect transparency. Stade Rennais FC has always done everything possible to put its players, especially foreigners, in the best possible conditions so that they can express their talent on the pitch,” Rennes retorted in its press release.
Reaction from Stade Rennais FC regarding the absence of Nemanja Matić from training
— Stade Rennais FC (@staderennais) January 11, 2024
As indicated in our columns on January 9, the player who played for Roma and Manchester United emptied his locker at the training center on Tuesday, and even left the team’s WhatsApp group. The player was even seen on a platform at Rennes station waiting for a train. According to our information, the player went to London accompanied by his wife and children, where he still has a house.
Interested in the midfielder’s services and looking for a new midfield recruit, Olympique Lyonnais sent a first offer to Stade Rennais which was declined by the Breton board.
