Chris Smalling’s Man Utd career could be over as agent hints at permanent Roma transfer
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CHRIS SMALLING'S Manchester United career looks to be over, after an agent involved in the transfer confirmed the player could move to Roma permanently.
The England defender, 29, made the switch to the Serie A club last week after nine years and 316 appearances at Old Trafford.
He was an un-used substitute during Roma's 1-1 draw with Lazio but is expected to get game time at the Stadio Olimpico after the international break.
Roma were in need of a replacement for Kostas Manolas, who departed for Napoli earlier in the summer, and they managed to find a cost-effective solution in Smalling.
He arrived at the club along with Chelsea right-back Davide Zappacosta, who had fallen out of favour first under Maurizio Sarri and then Frank Lampard at Stamford Bridge.
Former United man Henrikh Mkhitaryan has also joined the Giallorossi from Premier League rivals Arsenal.
Giulio Meozzi, an intermediary in the move, said: "An important transfer.
"There is a possibility of making a dry loan, with the option to keep for next year and that depends on his performances.
"Roma has done good business and has also been able to sell well.
";Smalling was an important operation just as that of Zappacosta."
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Unfortunately for Zappacosta he was not able to play in the Rome derby because he aggravated an injury during the warm-up.
Roma have three games in seven days after the international break, hosting Sassuolo in Serie A, then Istanbul Basaksehir in the Europa League, before making the trip to Bologna.
United were happy to let Smalling go after signing Harry Maguire for a world record £85million, while Axel Tuanzebe returned from his loan spell at Aston Villa.
