Matija Nastasić

Matija Nastasić is a product of Partizan youth academy. Unable to find space in the Partizan first team setup, he was sent out on loan to Serbian second division side FK Teleoptik from Zemun. There, the young, left footed centre back made 21 appearances and caught the eye of Fiorentina sporting director at that time, Pantaleo Corvino, who signed him in a deal for €4 million.[3]

Nastasić spent some time in the Fiorentina youth side but, due to a lack of quality centre backs in the squad and suspensions and injuries, he trained with the first team on many occasions. Fellow Serbian and Fiorentina manager Siniša Mihajlović handed him his Serie A debut on 11 September 2011 in a 2–0 win against Bologna. He went on to make a further 25 appearances that season but one stood out more than any and it was during this performance that he announced himself to Italian and World football. It was a match between La Viola and Milan at the Stadio Artemio Franchi. Nastasić showed many of his qualities - tackling, comfort on the ball, tactical astuteness. It was these qualities that led to a deadline day transfer to English side Manchester City in a move worth €24.4 million,[4] excluding the value of Stefan Savić who was given to Fiorentina as part of the exchange.[5]

Nastasić with Manchester City in 2013

Nastasić signed a five-year contract with new club Manchester City, ending on 30 June 2017. He was part of an exchange deal with Stefan Savić.[6] He made his debut for the club on 18 September 2012, starting in a Champions League away fixture against Real Madrid at the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium. He made his Premier League debut on 29 September in a 2–1 win against Fulham.[7] He cemented his place in the starting XI and his great form won him the club's Player of the Month Award for November. Quickly becoming a fan favourite,[8] the youngster pushed 30-year-old Joleon Lescott out of the starting lineup in centre-back position and was selected to start in the 2013 FA Cup Final, a 1–0 defeat by Wigan Athletic. In May 2013, he was named Manchester City's Young Player of the Season.[9]

Nastasić had a less successful season in 2013–14, missing the majority of the campaign through injury.[10] He made 13 league appearances and Manchester City won the Premier League title.[11]

On 13 January 2015, having not featured for City during the season, he was loaned to German club Schalke 04 for its remainder.[12] He made his debut on 31 January, starting in a 1–0 home win over Hannover 96.[13] Having not featured in the Champions League that season, he featured in both legs of Schalke's elimination by Real Madrid in the Last 16.

On 11 March 2015, Schalke 04 activated the transfer clause on his loan deal, believed to be €12 million, and Nastasić signed a four-year contract with the German club.[14][15]

On 8 August 2015, Nastasić marked his season debut by scoring his first goal for the club, in a 5–0 win at MSV Duisburg in the first round of the DFB-Pokal.[16]

In June 2018, along with goalkeeper Ralf Fährmann, Nastasić sign a contract extension with Schalke to stay with the club until the summer of 2022.[17][18]

Nastasić in City colours, facing Real Madrid in 2012

Nastasić playing for Schalke 04 in 2018

As of match played on 6 February 2020.[19]

As of match played 7 September 2019[22]

Senior International appearances
#	Date	Venue	Opponent	Result		Competition	Note
1.	29 February 2012	GSZ Stadium, Larnaca, Cyprus	Cyprus	0–0	Draw	Friendly	Time played: 90' (complete game)
2.	15 August 2012	Stadion Rajko Mitić, Belgrade, Serbia	Republic of Ireland	0–0	Draw	Friendly	Time played: 90' (complete game)
3.	8 September 2012	Hampden Park, Glasgow, Scotland	Scotland	0–0	Draw	2014 World Cup Qualification Group A	Time played: 90' (complete game) (30')
4.	11 September 2012	Stadion Karađorđe, Novi Sad, Serbia	Wales	6–1	Win	2014 World Cup Qualification Group A	Time played: 90' (complete game)
5.	12 October 2012	Stadion Rajko Mitić, Belgrade, Serbia	Belgium	0–3	Loss	2014 World Cup Qualification Group A	Time played: 90' (complete game)
6.	16 October 2012	National Arena Philip II of Macedonia, Skopje, Republic of Macedonia	North Macedonia	0–1	Loss	2014 World Cup Qualification Group A	Time played: 90' (complete game)
7.	6 February 2013	GSP Stadium, Nicosia, Cyprus	Cyprus	3–1	Win	Friendly	Time played: 90' (complete game)
8.	22 March 2013	Stadion Maksimir, Zagreb, Croatia	Croatia	0–2	Loss	2014 World Cup Qualification Group A	Time played: 90' (complete game)
9.	26 March 2013	Stadion Karađorđe, Novi Sad, Serbia	Scotland	2–0	Win	2014 World Cup Qualification Group A	Time played: 90' (complete game) (61')
10.	6 September 2013	Stadion Rajko Mitić, Belgrade, Serbia	Croatia	1–1	Draw	2014 World Cup Qualification Group A	Time played: 90' (complete game)
11.	10 September 2013	Cardiff City Stadium, Cardiff, Wales	Wales	3–0	Win	2014 World Cup Qualification Group A	Time played: 90' (complete game)
12.	11 October 2013	Stadion Karađorđe, Novi Sad, Serbia	Japan	2–0	Win	Friendly	Time played: 90' (complete game)
13.	15 October 2013	Jagodina City Stadium, Jagodina, Serbia	North Macedonia	5–1	Win	2014 World Cup Qualification Group A	Time played: 90' (complete game)
14.	7 September 2014	Partizan Stadium, Belgrade, Serbia	France	1–1	Draw	Friendly	Time played: 90' (complete game) (64')
15.	11 October 2014	Vazgen Sargsyan Republican Stadium, Yerevan, Armenia	Armenia	1–1	Draw	2016 Euro Qualification Group I	Time played: 90' (complete game) (45')
16.	14 October 2014	Partizan Stadium, Belgrade, Serbia	Albania	0–3	Loss	2016 Euro Qualification Group I	Time played: 41' (complete game)
17.	29 March 2015	Estádio da Luz, Lisbon, Portugal	Portugal	1–2	Loss	2016 Euro Qualification Group I	Time played: 90' (complete game)
18.	7 July 2015	NV Arena, Sankt Pölten, Austria	Azerbaijan	4–1	Win	Friendly	Time played: 90' (complete game)
19.	13 July 2015	Parken, Copenhagen, Denmark	Denmark	0–2	Loss	2016 Euro Qualification Group I	Time played: 90' (complete game)
Scores and results list Serbia national football team's goal tally first.