Chris Smalling has enjoyed a career revival since leaving Manchester United for Roma last summer.
The arrival of Harry Maguire may have seen Smalling’s game time become limited, with the centre-back deciding to leave to get more minutes on the pitch.
He’s been an instant hit in the Italian capital, playing 13 games and already wearing the captain’s armband.
Smalling has made 1.2 tackles, 2 interceptions and 4.4 clearances per game this season for the Italian giants (via WhoScored), helping to bring stability to their defensive unit.
Given United’s shaky start to the season, it comes as little surprise that Ole Gunnar Solskjaer wants the former England international to return at the end of the season.
At 6 foot 4, which makes him a signifcant presence, he currently has a market value of £18m (per TransferMarkt), about a quarter of what they paid for Maguire in the summer.
While Smalling divided opinion in his time at United, he made over 300 appearances and won two Premier League titles.
Here’s how some United fans reacted to the news:
Better than Maguire if we’re being honest. Should have never left. Jones is the useless one
— The Stretford Pundit (@DezReport) December 6, 2019
Give them Jones for free
— AR (@Nukes1005) December 6, 2019
Much rather have him in the squad over Jones
— Paul Kay (@pktheapprentice) December 6, 2019
To this day it baffles me how smalling got let go and jones is still here. Would love to see a smalling maguire partnership🤷♂️
— Matt (@UtdKwolz) December 6, 2019
Not totally against this decision tbh…
— Clix_MUFC (@Clixian) December 6, 2019
Good. It was a mistake letting him go and leaving Jones. Smalling is better than Lindelof and I’m glad people are realizing that now.
— Ayman Ameen (@A_sleemy) December 6, 2019
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United fans, would Smalling get into the starting XI at present? Let us know below!
