As you know, it took quite some time for AS Roma to convince Manchester United of letting Chris Smalling go.
The English defender had returned to the Old Trafford club following a good loan spell with the Serie A side, and while he wanted to return and the Italians wanted him back, Ed Woodward and co. stood their ground in hope of getting €20m.
Such an offer never came, and after many offers that were initially rejected, Roma came forward with enough money to get the Premier League club to change their mind and let him return to Italy.
He might have signed on transfer deadline day, but he was presented for the first (second?) time to the media on Wednesday, where CEO Guido Fienga quickly discussed how pleased he was to have the player back.
Unlike Antonio Percassi, it seems Fienga didn’t learn much about his talks with Ed Woodward when negotiating transfers, and it’s clearly something he isn’t too keen to look back on.
Either way, Smalling is now a Roma player and Manchester United still look extremely weak at the back despite having all transfer window to address that issue.
