Chris Smalling has revealed that Manchester has a 'special place' in his heart and has wished Manchester United good luck for the rest of the season after departing for Roma.
Smalling has completed a season-long loan move to the Giallorossi after falling behind Victor Lindelof, Harry Maguire and Axel Tuanzebe in the centre-back pecking order.
Roma have paid a €3million fee to take Smalling for the remainder of the 2019/20 season and after spending nine years at Old Trafford the 29-year-old is thrilled to embark on a new challenge.
"Manchester – the club, the people, the city, has always held a special place in my heart but I still have as much desire to play regular first team football as I did when I joined the club over 9 years ago," Smalling wrote on his Instagram page.
"Roma is a fantastic club, with a lot of history, and I’m relishing the new challenge they have offered me. I’m excited to experience a new league, experience the culture and get really stuck in to support Roma’s domestic and European ambitions.
"To all the staff, players and fans at United, the journey so far has been a pleasure, wishing you the best of luck for the season."
Smalling has joined Inter pair Romelu Lukaku and Alexis Sanchez in Serie A and it's expected that Matteo Darmian will also follow them to Italy with a move to Parma before Monday's deadline.
He could make his debut for Roma in Sunday's Rome derby against Lazio.
