Nemanja Matic has joined Romelu Lukaku, Paul Pogba and other teammates as Jose Mourinho’s squad are travelling to Ireland to face Serie A side Sampdoria tonight., in a match likely to be his debut for new club Manchester United after his $40m move from Champions Chelsea.

Lukaku revealed he was furious with best pal Paul Pogba – after the world record France midfielder sat next to Matic on the bus to the airport.

Posting a video on Snapchat, Lukaku joked: “You see it, Matic came and he left me”.

Manchester United legend Denis Irwin reckons that Matic will be a key man for United – helping to release Pogba into a more attacking role.

The Irishman, who won seven Premier League titles and played more than 500 matches, said: “Matic is a player United have needed for quite a while.

“Michael Carrick has done a fantastic job there but he is not getting any younger and we’ve needed midfielders.

Nemanja matic set for man united debut
Photograph: Eamonn and James Clarke

Matic is also a signing designed to let Pogba off the leash a little bit so, although every club starts the season optimistic, having seen United in pre-season out in USA and just judging by the general feeling in and around the camp, I think it’s a very positive environment at the moment.”

After their match with Sampdoria – which will be played in front of more than 50,000 fans at the Aviva Stadium face – United play Real Madrid in the Super Cup in Skopje, Macedonia.

The club then host West Ham in their first Premier League match of the new season on Sunday, August 13.

Spanish pair Ander Herrera and Juan Mata both returned from minor injuries to play a half in the win over Valarenga in Oslo at the weekend, and each is expected to play a bigger part tonight.

David De Gea and Antonio Valencia, who both missed the trip to Norway, have travelled to Dublin.