Top-flight duo had hoped to lure the player to England this summer.
Both Chelsea and Manchester United look like missing out on highly-rated Benfica midfield player Nemanja Matic this summer after the Serb confirmed that he would be staying in Lisbon for at least one more year, reports the Guardian.
The Serbia international has only been with the Portuguese giants for the past one-and-a-half seasons, having signed for the club from Chelsea in Jan 2011 as part of the deal that brought defender David Luiz to Stamford Bridge in return.
And in the intervening 18 months, the 24-year-old has proved himself to be one of the most accomplished young midfield players currently plying their trade on the Continent, having featured in 58 matches in all competitions for Benfica in that time, scoring four goals, including two strikes in his 35 league contests for the club.
However, despite both Premier League giants hoping to be able to persuade Matic to return to the English top flight this summer, the player has opted to stay in Portugal instead, saying: “Frankly, I want to stay another year in Lisbon. Of course, someone like José Mourinho wanting me to go back to London would be an opportunity to prove that I can play in the Premier League, but I want to achieve more at Benfica, particularly in the big games.”
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