Corriere dello Sport has recently claimed that Manchester United defender Chris Smalling is desperate to stay in Italy and prolong his time with AS Roma. It is understood that the Red Devils are considering quite a few offers for the English defender this summer, but the player still wants to remain at the Italian capital next season.
Smalling’s Incredible Loan Spell In Italian Football
Last season, Smalling enjoyed a brilliant loan spell with Paulo Fonseca’s team as he put in a series of dominant displays as a key component of Roma’s backline. The 30-year-old has got three goals and two assists to his name in 37 appearances for the Italian side across all competitions.
More importantly, the London-born centre-back was a rock at the back defensively as he averaged 0.9 tackles, 1.9 interceptions and 3.9 clearances per 90 minutes in the Serie A. He even took care of the ball well as evident from his pass success rate of 90.5% in the Italian top tier (stats via whoscored).
Over the past 12 months, Smalling has gained a lot of confidence after finding a level of consistency with his all-around performances at the heart of Fonseca’s defence. Hence, it is no surprise that he wants to stay at Rome rather than seal a return to Old Trafford or join another Premier League side this summer. The 31-time England international seems to have found an ideal home at the Stadio Olimpico where he was playing some of the best football of his playing career last season.
What Does The English Defensive Ace Offer On The Pitch?
Smalling is a good athlete and has the strength to overpower the opposition in the air which make him such a dominant figure at the back of Roma last season. He matured as a centre-back during the previous campaign and can now sense the danger quickly that enables him to pull off a few essential clearances inside his half. The Englishman is also a decent tackler and possesses the hunger to earn the ball back for his team. He is also not shy of putting himself in the way of a goal-bound shot from the opposition and is always committed to the cause.
Should The Red Devils Sanction Smalling’s Departure This Summer?
Smalling’s recent form at Roma suggests that Ole Gunnar Solskjaer should at least give him a chance at Old Trafford if he can overcome his problems with the player. Man United’s poor defensive performance against Sevilla in the UEFA Europa League semifinal on Sunday night highlights Solskjaer’s need to sign a new centre-back this summer. Maybe, the Red Devils should instead consider giving Smalling another shot at the Theatre of Dreams if they can convince the defender to play for the club again next season.
Otherwise, the Mancunian outfit would be better of cashing in on him in this off-season so that they can use the money generated from his potential sale to bring in a quality defender, who will be capable of helping them challenge for multiple trophies in the years to come.
