Following Chris Smalling loan from Manchester United at the start of the season, it always seemed like Roma wanted to sign the defender on a permanent deal.
The Italian press has been reporting these plans for months now, even though it never seemed like an easy purchase for the Serie A side.
Newspaper Gazzetta Dello Sport writes today that ‘pessimism’ is growing about this case, because Manchester United are demanding €20m, and Roma can’t spend that much.
The Giallorossi, like many European clubs, are likely to be more focused on swap deals for the next trasnfer window.
Chris Smalling has made 28 appearances for Roma this season, having started and played 90 minutes in all the league games he was available for.
That’s a pretty good reason why the Italian side would have no doubts in making an effort to keep him in the squad, so only Man United’s demands can stop them.
In case Smaling returns to Old Trafford, his contract with the Red Devils runs until 2022.
