Manchester United defender Chris Smalling Joins AS Roma on Loan for the remainder of the 2019/20 season.

As we reported earlier today, the centre-back flew out to the Italian capital this morning to undertake a medical and finalise the contractual details.

Speaking to MUTV before his pre-match press conference, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer explained the reasons behind the temporary transfer.

“At the moment we’ve got six center-backs. This is just something that popped up towards the end [of the European transfer window] in the last couple of days. Chris fancied the chance to go over there; it’s a new experience, new adventure.
He’ll come back better for it because it’s a big club, it’s a good league. There aren’t too many English players who have been playing in Italy so I think he’ll enjoy it.”
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer on Chris Smalling Joins AS Roma on Loan

The confirmation of Chris’s move means he’s the third senior United player to go out on loan for 2019/20, following Alexis Sanchez’s switch to Inter Milan and Joel Pereira’s journey to Scottish club Hearts.

Smalling made 34 appearances for the Reds in all competitions last term, scoring one goal – the strike that proved to be the winner at Vicarage Road when Watford were beaten 2-1.

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