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Ex-Man United star reveals ‘shock’ over treatment at the club prior to exit

United are keen on offloading Smalling
Smalling did very well on loan at AS Roma

Chris Smalling outlines ‘shock’ over his treatment before loan exit to AS Roma in 2019

Speaking to The Telegraph, former Manchester United defender Chris Smalling has revealed his shock at the way he was treated before he left for AS Roma on loan last year.

Smalling had been with Manchester United since 2010, having arrived from Fulham. He was one of the longest-serving members in the squad and had been a regular in the 2018/19 campaign.

However, Harry Maguire’s arrival at the club from Leicester City in 2019 saw the Englishman get pushed down the pecking order. Following which he was deemed surplus to requirement by Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.

Chris Smalling first joined AS Roma on loan in 2019
Smalling first joined AS Roma on loan in 2019

But Smalling has revealed that he was left shocked by the way United handled the situation, leaving it till the last moment to inform him to find a new club. (h/t The Telegraph)

“I guess that was maybe the lowest point at United. That was the shock I didn’t expect. How it was handled… if I was told earlier that summer – and I don’t want to have a dig at Ole – I would have made other plans.”

Eventually, Smalling joined AS Roma on loan and enjoyed a brilliant 2019/20 campaign before returning to Old Trafford.

However, he wasn’t able to convince Ole Gunnar Solskjaer that he belonged at the club and was sold to Roma permanently in the summer, once again very late in the transfer window.

Roma signed Chris Smalling permanently last summer
Roma signed Chris Smalling permanently last summer

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Considering how our defence has fared, in comparison to the way Smalling has played at Roma, perhaps he could have been given him another shot by the management.

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