Chris Smalling believes staying at Manchester United as a fringe player would have been an easy option for him and says he is ready to instead prove his worth at Roma.
The 29-year-old defender swapped Old Trafford for Stadio Olimpico last month in search of regular playing time following the £80million arrival of Harry Maguire at United.
Smalling was unwilling to play a bit-part role for the Red Devils and is hoping to improve his game during a season-long loan in Serie A.
“The easy decision was to stay. I had spoken to the manager before Harry came and I knew I was behind him and Victor [Lindelof],” he told The Telegraph.
Focused… pic.twitter.com/6K39vXGjTt
— Chris Smalling (@ChrisSmalling) September 6, 2019
“But in previous seasons I had started behind [two first-choice centre-backs] and, after four or five games, I had worked myself into the team.
“I love a challenge and when a new centre-back comes in, it makes you raise your game. You have to show more, you have to be more consistent.
“If I had stayed, I would have taken on that challenge and I would have been very confident that I would have played the number of games that I was worthy of.
“Equally, I have a challenge here at Roma. Going back [to United], I will have an added element that some of the centre-backs won’t have.”
“I would have had the cup games and then in the league, depending on injuries. Would it have been the 40 to 50 games that I am used to if fit? It might have been the 20 to 30. Still a good number of games but I want to play.”
[Sportskeeda]
