GETTY

Nemanja Matic joined rivals Manchester United this summer for a fee in the region of £40 million, leaving many Chelsea fans wondering why the midfielder was sold to a rival.

Chelsea boss Antonio Conte recently hinted the decision to sell Matic to Manchester United was out of his hands and he has now admitted losing Matic is a great loss for Chelsea.

“Matic knows very well what I think about him,” Conte told Sky Sports.

“The importance for me about this player because, I repeat, he’s a really good and strong player – and important for our team.

“Sometimes you must accept this crazy transfer market and sometimes you must accept different decisions.

“But I repeat for sure he is a great loss.”