Former Chelsea midfielder Nemanja Matic says Manchester United are the biggest club he has ever played for.
The Serbia international completed his £40million move to Old Trafford earlier this summer, reuniting with former manager Jose Mourinho.
Despite having turned 29 the day after joining Matic is already proving to be money well spent for United and was named man of the match in his Premier League debut, a 4-0 win over West Ham.
And Matic is already feeling a weight of expectation in Manchester that goes beyond everything he has experienced in his career so far.
“Everyone knows what Manchester United is about. It is different,” Matic told Sky Sports.
“Chelsea is a big club, Benfica are the biggest club in Portugal. But Manchester United is Manchester United.
“Maybe you have two or three clubs similar to United, but it is one of the biggest clubs in the world for sure.
“When I came here for the first day, I could feel that the people at the club help you every day if you need something and supporters are very important for this club.”
In Pictures | Manchester United vs West Ham | 13/08/2017
United boss Mourinho has been among a host of names associated with the Old Trafford giants to express his surprise at Chelsea’s decision to put the anchorman up for sale.
Matic was targeted by the likes of Juventus and Inter Milan but when the chance to reunite with the manager who brought him back to Chelsea for a second spell in 2014 emerged he did not have to think twice.
“He was very important for me,” Matic said of Mourinho. “When I decided to come to Manchester, he was a reason to come here.
“My decision was very quick and very clear. You don't need to think a lot about if you are going to come.”