Sly Posted 25 February 2023 Share Posted 25 February 2023 https://www.90min.com/posts/chris-smalling-stance-roma-exit-amid-premier-league-interest Roma defender Chris Smalling is the subject of interest from several Premier League sides, sources have told 90min. The centre-back has revived his career since leaving Manchester United in 2019, joining the Serie A giants on an initial loan before making the move permanent a year later. Smalling is as important to Roma as ever at the age of 33, featuring in all but one game for them in all competitions so far this season. 90min understands that there are a number of English clubs looking to bring him back to his home country. High-flying Fulham - where Smalling began his professional career after joining from Maidstone United - are interested, as are Everton, Leicester and West Ham. His contract expires in the summer though it retains a one-year extension option, and speaking to Sky Sport Italia, Smalling revealed his desire to stay in Rome. "I am very confident [about staying]...I have an option to renew for one year but I hope to stay for more seasons," he said. Smalling has become a cult hero at Roma during his four seasons with the club, helping them to Europa Conference League glory last summer. He has continued to exceed under the guidance of former United manager Jose Mourinho, with Roma in a good position to return to the Champions League next season. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vindaloo FOX Posted 25 February 2023 Share Posted 25 February 2023 Can't see him leaving Roma 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MPH Posted 25 February 2023 Share Posted 25 February 2023 “ Europa conference league glory’ Just say they won it. Much better. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FOXYTALK Posted 25 February 2023 Share Posted 25 February 2023 Yes under the right circumstances and weekly wage. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Miquel The Work Geordie Posted 25 February 2023 Share Posted 25 February 2023 He's better than any of our centre halves (at the moment) - absolute no brainer unless he wants a long and expensive contract. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
whoareyaaa Posted 25 February 2023 Share Posted 25 February 2023 Age is not really on his side would be a good option for a season or two though 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
surrifox Posted 25 February 2023 Share Posted 25 February 2023 19 minutes ago, Miquel The Work Geordie said: He's better than any of our centre halves (at the moment) - absolute no brainer unless he wants a long and expensive contract. He almost certainly will Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JimJams Posted 25 February 2023 Share Posted 25 February 2023 Not really an option I'd want to explore tbh. I know players are going on for longer so 33 isn't necessarily the death knell it once was, but I think people overlook the now quite frankly vast gulf between Serie A and the Premier League. Especially for defenders. Koulibaly has rocked up to Chelsea and been an absolute mess. Standing out in Serie A is one thing but you're playing at a slower pace and against inferior quality week in week out. The standard in Italy isn't there imo. People always think of Juve, the Milans and now Napoli. They forget the league is propped up by teams like Salernitana, Cremonese, Spezia Calcio, Hellas Verona. So far this season, the majority of Romas games have come against the poorer sides. The only big side they've beaten is Inter, and they conceded in that. That's obviously not all on Smalling, I'm going off on a bit of a tangent, but being good in Italy isn't a great indicator for me of his ability to still do it in the Premier league. At least with Jonny Evans he was actually still performing in the division. This is all moot, cos he'll be staying in Italy. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Miquel The Work Geordie Posted 25 February 2023 Share Posted 25 February 2023 11 minutes ago, JimJams said: Not really an option I'd want to explore tbh. I know players are going on for longer so 33 isn't necessarily the death knell it once was, but I think people overlook the now quite frankly vast gulf between Serie A and the Premier League. Especially for defenders. Koulibaly has rocked up to Chelsea and been an absolute mess. Standing out in Serie A is one thing but you're playing at a slower pace and against inferior quality week in week out. The standard in Italy isn't there imo. People always think of Juve, the Milans and now Napoli. They forget the league is propped up by teams like Salernitana, Cremonese, Spezia Calcio, Hellas Verona. So far this season, the majority of Romas games have come against the poorer sides. The only big side they've beaten is Inter, and they conceded in that. That's obviously not all on Smalling, I'm going off on a bit of a tangent, but being good in Italy isn't a great indicator for me of his ability to still do it in the Premier league. At least with Jonny Evans he was actually still performing in the division. This is all moot, cos he'll be staying in Italy. He's done well in continental competition too though... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CosbehFox Posted 25 February 2023 Share Posted 25 February 2023 15 minutes ago, JimJams said: Not really an option I'd want to explore tbh. I know players are going on for longer so 33 isn't necessarily the death knell it once was, but I think people overlook the now quite frankly vast gulf between Serie A and the Premier League. Especially for defenders. Koulibaly has rocked up to Chelsea and been an absolute mess. Standing out in Serie A is one thing but you're playing at a slower pace and against inferior quality week in week out. The standard in Italy isn't there imo. People always think of Juve, the Milans and now Napoli. They forget the league is propped up by teams like Salernitana, Cremonese, Spezia Calcio, Hellas Verona. So far this season, the majority of Romas games have come against the poorer sides. The only big side they've beaten is Inter, and they conceded in that. That's obviously not all on Smalling, I'm going off on a bit of a tangent, but being good in Italy isn't a great indicator for me of his ability to still do it in the Premier league. At least with Jonny Evans he was actually still performing in the division. This is all moot, cos he'll be staying in Italy. In a fortnight where only one of the English sides won in Europe but all 7 of Italy’s remained unbeaten, I don’t think that’s the strongest argument. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
westernpark Posted 25 February 2023 Share Posted 25 February 2023 Two year deal for Smalling, say goodbye to Evans. We need to be more ruthless. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FrankieADZ Posted 25 February 2023 Share Posted 25 February 2023 while i think Smalling would be a decent addition, i think he'll stay in Italy 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JimJams Posted 25 February 2023 Share Posted 25 February 2023 1 hour ago, CosbehFox said: In a fortnight where only one of the English sides won in Europe but all 7 of Italy’s remained unbeaten, I don’t think that’s the strongest argument. I guess it's probably better to make judgement over more than a 2 week period then. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stevosevic Posted 25 February 2023 Share Posted 25 February 2023 He’ll get better offers than us. No chance Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Le Renard Posted 25 February 2023 Share Posted 25 February 2023 He has a one-year option on his contract, so I would be surprised if he would leave Roma at this moment in time, although money can persuade many people, I don't see Smalling as your typical mercenary, he would only come back to the UK for family reasons. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MPH Posted 25 February 2023 Share Posted 25 February 2023 I wouldn’t blame him one bit for staying at Roma. Firstly, he’s in Rome. But secondly he was riled and derided for his performances in Manchester and they love him over there so why would he give all that up ? Probably only got 2-3 years left so better to do that at a club who loves him. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Torten Posted 25 February 2023 Share Posted 25 February 2023 Watched him live on Thursday against Salzburg and he did look the better of their other two defenders. On a one year deal can’t really go wrong Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CrispinLA in Texas Posted 25 February 2023 Share Posted 25 February 2023 Would love him here....played brilliantly against Leicester in the conference league but reading that he wants to stay in Italy for another few seasons Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HankMarvin Posted 25 February 2023 Share Posted 25 February 2023 Probably go inter Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bptiger Posted 26 February 2023 Share Posted 26 February 2023 We missed the boat , we could have had him years ago . So no hope of him coming now Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wymsey Posted 26 February 2023 Share Posted 26 February 2023 Definitely a Dyche-type signing.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
volpeazzurro Posted 27 February 2023 Share Posted 27 February 2023 Why would he leave a lovely warm place like Roma (sitting 4th in Serie A) to live in Leicester and listen to Rodger's utter bollocks 🤔. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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