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Chris Smalling has mixed feelings over his Man Utd future as he ‘feels very settled’ in Italy


Chris Smalling has made an impressive start to his loan spell at Roma (Picture: Getty Images)

Chris Smalling admits that he misses life at Manchester United, but is also loving his time in Italy where he is feeling very settled already.

The England international is on a season-long loan with Roma in Serie A and has made an impressive start to his time with the Italian side.

The 29-year-old has quickly become a regular in the Roma first team, starting eight Serie A games and two more in the Europa League.

Smalling’s Manchester United contract runs until 2022, but he admits that if his stint in the Italian capital is successful, it could lead to a longer stay.

‘I do [miss Man United] because I was there for so many years and I was used to be being part of the furniture there,’ Smalling told talkSPORT.

‘But I am enjoying my new chapter, and hopefully I can keep affecting performances on the pitch and we can have a successful season. Right now I’m really enjoying being in Italy.

‘I am feeling very settled; my family is over here and the dogs are over here, so everyone is settled. When my family are happy and I am happy it shows on the pitch.’

Roma manager Paulo Fonseca has set his side the task of returning to the Champions League and lifting a trophy this season.

Smalling says that when these accomplishments have been achieved then he will re-evaluate his career path.

‘The manager’s targets are not just about getting back in the Champions League – it is about winning something,’ the defender continued.

‘That is where my full focus is, and come the end of the season when we’ve won something and achieved something we can see where it goes.

‘Right now it is all about focus on the pitch.’

When Smalling made the move to Roma, United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer spoke as if he was expecting him to eventually return to Old Trafford.

‘Chris fancied the chance to go over there; it’s a new experience, new adventure,’ Solskjaer told the official Manchester United website.

‘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.’

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