Matt Ritchie set for Portsmouth exit after major update
Matt Ritchie’s time at Portsmouth looks to be coming to a dramatic end already.
The Fratton Park favourite is set to leave the Blues again after just one season.
The 35-year-old rejoined his boyhood club last summer after leaving Newcastle, where he became an integral part of John Mousinho’s squad.
Ritchie would feature 39 times for Pompey last campaign, netting five times as the South Coast club avoided relegation upon their return to the Championship.
Ritchie left out of Mousinho’s pre-season squad in Slovakia
Despite his involvement last season, Ritchie looks set to follow Ryley Towler out the door in PO4.
According to reports from The News (9 July), Ritchie is not part of Mousinho’s pre-season squad in Slovakia, with the winger staying in England as he looks to find a new club.
This comes after Pompey were not able to guarantee regular playing time for Ritchie next campaign.
The Scotsman was in search of an assurance that he would play consistently, but the Blues were unable to guarantee him the minutes he was looking for.
| Matt Ritchie (Championship 2024/25 season) |
| Total minutes – 2220 |
A parting of ways between the club and player is now inevitable, with multiple of Portsmouth’s Championship rivals interested in the experienced winger.
Bizarre decision from the Blues
Unless Ritchie’s demands were completely outrageous and unreasonable, which is hard to imagine, this decision from Pompey is a strange one.
Whilst players such as Adrian Segecic can excite the fanbase with their potential, they are unknowns in English football.
Ritchie is a grizzled veteran of the game who proved last season he can still contribute at Championship level.
His experience and leadership were no doubt valuable qualities in the dressing room during Pompey’s rough patches at times during the last season.
Now Portsmouth look set to lose that.
Ritchie was never going to play 90 minutes consistently next season, and he surely wouldn’t even have expected that.
But a role in line with the part he played last season, maybe with a slight reduction, would have been a fair and justified move.
If Ritchie feels as though he would hardly kick a ball for Pompey next season, then at 35, he cannot afford to sit and wait around.
Another Championship club will now benefit directly at Portsmouth’s detriment, who now need to replace their number 30.
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