When a 29 year old leaves a club on loan it’s not to get experience elsewhere and then return.
Chris Smalling joined AS Roma in the summer on a temporary move, as he looked to leave Old Trafford for more minutes on the pitch. Settling in pretty quickly, talk of a permanent switch has been around for months, although doubt has recently been placed on it.
One of the reasons a permanent deal was the original basis for the move will have been Roma being reluctant to pay what Manchester United required, and there’s been suggestions that could also be a problem next summer.
There’s no buying option, and with Smalling having a contract until June 2022 it can’t be ruled out that he wears the shirt again, despite that seeming unlikely.
Forza Roma quote the player as answering: “Clearly. I spent many years there and I had become part of the furniture of the club. Now I’m concentrated here in Italy and I’m satisfied.”
Asked about Liverpool beating Manchester City, he said: “I still closely follow the events of the Premier League, especially those of United. I hope they can do well and go back up.”
