Former Manchester United midfielder Nemanja Matic has taken to social media following his verbal clash with Andre Onana.
Last night saw Nemanja Matic play against his former side for the first time since leaving Manchester United in 2022, and the Serbian took to social media after the game to highlight the special occasion.
Matic left Manchester United in July of 2022 to join Roma, before then making a move to France to join Stade Rennais, which was then followed by a move to Olympique Lyonnais.
The 36-year-old was rewarded with a Europa League quarter-final tie against his former side as he enters the twilight of his career, and the first leg lived up to expectations as it finished 2-2 between the sides.
The home side took the lead first through a Thiago Almada free-kick, which was then met with a Leny Yoro equaliser on the stroke of half time. Joshua Zirkzee’s late header thought to have won it, but it wasn’t enough due to a Rayan Cherki equaliser with the last kick of the game.
Onana vs Matic’s war of words
Leading up to last night’s draw, Andre Onana was asked about his side’s chances in France following last weekend’s 0-0 draw with Manchester City, to which he responded, “I think we are better than them, we just have to go there and show who we are”.
Matic hit back at the Cameroon international in his press conference where he said, “If you are one of the worst goalkeepers in Man United history, you need to take care of what you’re talking about”.
This then caused a response on social media from the United man, who posted a photo of him kissing the FA Cup with a caption including, “At least I’ve lifted trophies with the greatest club in the world. Some can’t say the same.”
On arrival to the Groupama Stadium, Onana was met with a very loud reception of boos from the home fans, which, despite him wearing headphones, he will have definitely heard.
Matic gets the last laugh
Unfortunately for Onana, he was to blame for both of Lyon’s goals as he failed to save a cross from a free kick, before then parrying a straight-forward shot right into the feet of Cherki.
Despite not playing a single minute, Matic clearly won the affair between the two, and many were expecting some sort of social media post after the game. Matic’s post, however, was different.
The former United midfielder took to social media to post a photo of his son, Filip, with multiple United shirts, as well as another photo of him alongside six member of United’s backroom staff, captioned, “Nice to see my brothers again.”
Maybe it was well advised for Matic to not mention his verbal battle with Onana due to the fact that the tie isn’t settled yet, but the Serbian will be hoping for a victory at Old Trafford on Thursday 17 April.
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