Chris Smalling: Manchester United defender joins Roma on loan

Last updated on 30 August 2019.From the section Man Utd627

Manchester United defender Chris Smalling has joined Roma on loan.

The Serie A side will pay €3m (£2.7m) to keep the player for a year.

Smalling has spent nine seasons at Old Trafford, winning the league title twice, but had fallen out of favour under boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.

"This is the perfect opportunity for me. The chance to experience a new league, with a big team that has got big aspirations is exactly what I needed," Smalling said.

"We are pleased to bring a player like Chris, who has so much experience, to Roma," said Roma sporting director Gianluca Petrachi.

Smalling, 29, joined United from Fulham in 2010 and extended his contract at Old Trafford to 2022 in December.

"This opportunity for Chris has come up in the last couple of days," said Solskjaer on Friday.

"We've got six fit centre-backs. I couldn't promise him regular football."

"It's a big club, a good league. There's not many English players who have had the chance to play in Italy and I'm sure he'll come back stronger and better for it."

Roma sold Greece centre-back Konstantinos Manolas to Napoli for £32m this summer.

Smalling made 34 appearances last season but was on the fringes of the squad, with fellow England defender Harry Maguire - an £80m summer signing - and Sweden international Victor Lindelof established as the first-choice centre-back partnership.

However Solskjaer said Marcos Rojo, who has been linked with AC Milan, Marseille and Monaco, is "staying definitely", along with fellow centre-backs Phil Jones, Eric Bailly and Axel Tuanzebe.

"We've got a squad now that's less in numbers but still big enough and strong enough to have coverage in all positions," added Solskjaer, who also confirmed Italian right-back Matteo Darmian is likely to be returning to his homeland.

Smalling is the fifth high-profile departure from United this summer, with Romelu Lukaku and Alexis Sanchez going to Inter Milan, and Antonio Valencia and Ander Herrera leaving after their contracts expired.

'He needed to go'

Alexis Sanchez in Inter Milan kit — Sanchez will link up with former United team-mate Romelu Lukaku at Inter Milan

Chile forward Sanchez arrived from Arsenal in a swap deal involving Henrikh Mkhitaryan in January 2018, but the 30-year-old has managed five goals in 45 games during a miserable spell.

United are believed to be subsidising his near £400,000-a-week wages during his season-long loan deal, after Inter spent £74m on Lukaku.

"Alexis needed to go," said Solskjaer. "He has been here for 18 months and it's not really worked out for him.

"For him as well, to restart and get himself playing regularly, getting himself scoring goals, that loan will only benefit everyone in the end.

"We're going to watch every weekend now to see Romelu and Alexis playing together. We had a decision to make and I'm trusting Anthony Martial, Marcus Rashford and Mason Greenwood to be our centre-forwards."

After making his first start in the last Premier League game of last season, 17-year-old Greenwood has come off the bench in all three of United's league games this term.

Find all the latest football transfers on our dedicated page.

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627 comments

Comment posted by Vin Joshi, at 10:25 30 Aug 2019
A good professional and a strong character, overcame the loss of his father at an early age to make it in football. Hope to see him do well in Italy.
Comment posted by lvred, at 11:58 30 Aug 2019
It's sadly predictable there are so many snide comments about a player who, from what I've seen and read, is a pretty decent bloke - doesn't throw his toys out every 5 minutes like many prima donnas, overcame a difficult upbringing, & accepted his demotion from the 1st team with good grace. I recall an interview with him a while back - articulate, pleasant, unassuming. Good luck from a Gooner.
Comment posted by davec , at 10:22 30 Aug 2019
It's the other 2 lumps. Rojo and Jones who need be gone. But can't blame lad for going. For 10yr he's been a great servant. Never moaned when not being picked. A proper old fashioned professional in the world of "he put me on the wrong team in training. Agent get me a move".

Good luck Chris Smalling and thank you for all the goals your scored against city 😂😂 cue 🎣🎣
Comment posted by sniffuppuffins, at 10:42 30 Aug 2019
Premier League: 2010–11, 2012–13
FA Cup: 2015–16
EFL Cup: 2016–17
FA Community Shield: 2010, 2011, 2013
UEFA Europa League: 2016–17 ....... and 30 odd caps for england.

not a bad career for someone as seemingly bad as some "experts"
are trying to make him look on here, the last of those trophies
less than 2 years ago at his " mid table " club.
Comment posted by Crazy Chester, at 10:35 30 Aug 2019
In Leicester's Premiership winning season Vardy named Smalling as his most difficult opponent. Not nice to play against (which is exactly what you want in a defender), but let down by poor distribution when coming out with the ball. Behind Maguire, Lindelöf, Tuanzebe and maybe Bailly (on the rare occasion he's fit!), but ahead of Jones and Rojo for me. Good luck to the guy.
Comment posted by conradk, at 10:17 30 Aug 2019
If Utd got rid of all their underperforming players they’d struggle to put together a 5 a side team.
Comment posted by U14958756, at 10:15 30 Aug 2019
Is Corporal Jones not going with him?
Comment posted by KM95, at 10:19 30 Aug 2019
Jones next out the door please!
Comment posted by dependabledennis-606_must_stay, at 10:16 30 Aug 2019
Good luck to him
Comment posted by HarrierMart, at 10:18 30 Aug 2019
Turning into a good week for United
Comment posted by Duncan, at 11:21 30 Aug 2019
@87. SOH

"He won't get away with his endless shirt pulling, grappling activity in Italy."

Considering shirt pulling and grappling activity was invented by the Italians I think he's got a pretty good chance. Probably the main attraction for him
Comment posted by surfing seadog, at 10:52 30 Aug 2019
Best of luck to Smalling. On the back of Trippier going to Atletico this is another English player going to another country to give it it a go so fair play.
Comment posted by manucol, at 10:51 30 Aug 2019
I wish him well he has served the club well
Comment posted by lukewolvesfanww7, at 10:39 30 Aug 2019
Wow Utd got a fee too?? Great business.
Comment posted by chanasnakepit, at 10:30 30 Aug 2019
Is jones and young part of the deal??! I would drive them to Manchester airport!
About time he left. Too many poor players at united. Get rid!
Comment posted by TheHitMan, at 12:00 30 Aug 2019
Agree with most that as a back up defender he would have been our best option ahead of Jones/Rojo/Bailly and even Tuanzebe. He's a very good organiser as well, at Old Trafford he was one of the most prominent voices you'd hear on the pitch which is what you want for a CB. Has been a loyal servant and wish him all the best, a top pro but just lacked at bringing the ball out from the back.
Comment posted by The Gorg, at 10:47 30 Aug 2019
40. Posted by keith on
19 minutes ago
They should have thrown in jones

==================

They did. They gave them the choice of £2.7m for Smalling or £1m if they take Jones as well.
Comment posted by EssexOracle, at 10:22 30 Aug 2019
Ole shipping out underperforming players and breaking up that dressing room can only be a good thing for them. Still need quality replacements (or for youth to come through and shine), but he’s at least showing he has the fortitude not to accept the rubbish United have been producing for the last few seasons.
Comment posted by Dale Hanson, at 12:11 30 Aug 2019
Chris Smalling has given us great service, a player who got the most out of his limited ability. For all the knockers and haters, it wasn't his fault he was signed, it wasn't his fault he was continually selected by different managers, and it wasn't his fault he wasn't replaced. When called upon, I can remember him playing well in many games. good luck to him.
Comment posted by Duncan, at 10:58 30 Aug 2019
Not so happy about this one as a Utd fan. As a third choice centre back I don't think there's a better option in the league as Smalling and I would have much preferred we had gotten rid of Jones/Rojo instead. He obviously didn't fancy being backup so can't do much about that and at least it will mean Tuanzebe getting more game time now.

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