---
title: "Manchester United: Fans react to news on Chris Smalling’s potential return"
canonical: "https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/manchester-united-fans-react-to-news-on-chris-smallings-return/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Ryan Fisher"
section: "Manchester United Football Club"
published: "2019-12-06T20:10:22Z"
modified: "2019-12-06T20:10:22Z"
---

# Manchester United: Fans react to news on Chris Smalling’s potential return

**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](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/chris-smalling/leistungsdaten/spieler/103427) and already wearing the [captain’s armband](https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-7737145/Europa-League-round-Chris-Smalling-gets-captains-armband-Roma-beat-Istanbul-Basaksehir.html).

Smalling has made 1.2 tackles, 2 interceptions and 4.4 clearances per game this season for the Italian giants (via [WhoScored)](https://www.whoscored.com/Players/71345/Show/Chris-Smalling), 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](https://www.thesun.co.uk/sport/football/10495579/solskjaer-chris-smalling-man-utd-roma-loan-inter/).

At 6 foot 4, which makes him a signifcant presence, he currently has a market value of £18m (per [TransferMarkt](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/chris-smalling/marktwertverlauf/spieler/103427)), about a quarter of what they paid for [Maguire](https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/49224905) in the summer.

While Smalling [divided opinion](https://www.balls.ie/football/manchester-united-fans-not-happy-chris-smallings-new-contract-402993) in his time at United, he made over [300 appearances](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/chris-smalling/leistungsdatenverein/spieler/103427) and won [two Premier League titles](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/chris-smalling/erfolge/spieler/103427).

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](https://twitter.com/DezReport/status/1202893394231676928?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)

> Give them Jones for free
>
> — AR (@Nukes1005) [December 6, 2019](https://twitter.com/Nukes1005/status/1202894565067415552?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)

> Much rather have him in the squad over Jones
>
> — Paul Kay (@pktheapprentice) [December 6, 2019](https://twitter.com/pktheapprentice/status/1202893439303585792?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)

> 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](https://twitter.com/UtdKwolz/status/1202899870174130176?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)

> Not totally against this decision tbh…
>
> — Clix\_MUFC (@Clixian) [December 6, 2019](https://twitter.com/Clixian/status/1202893148814499841?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)

> 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](https://twitter.com/A_sleemy/status/1202913303024062464?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)

\[freshpress-poll id=”262364″\]

***United fans, would Smalling get into the starting XI at present? Let us know below!***