ROMA HEAD COACH Paulo Fonseca is desperate to keep on-loan Manchester United defender Chris Smalling for at least another season.
Harry Maguire’s arrival as the world’s most expensive defender last summer left Ole Gunnar Solskjaer with a bloated squad and, while far from the worst centre-back on the books, the 30-year-old was allowed to leave on a year-long loan .
Smalling has shone in Serie A to the point where his England career looks set to be revived, with Gareth Southgate heading to Rome to watch a defender he looked to have all but ruled out ever calling up again.
Solskjaer has spoken of his expectation that in-form Smalling would return to United next season, but Roma boss Fonseca is hoping to keep him in Italy.
“I will do everything I can to keep him at Roma next year too,” he told ESPN. “I know he wants to stay, let’s see what happens.
“He’s an amazing man, so humble, so professional. He is adored by the fans and established himself as one of the leaders in the dressing room.
“It’s not easy for English central defenders to adapt so quickly to Italian football, the record there isn’t good. But he has been amazing.”
So many GAA players are Suffering very bad injuries over there. Tommy Walsh, Ciaran Sheehan etc
@Buff Egan: you’re only saying that because they’re good players that went over there from here. Lots of players here get similar injuries and nothing is ever said. Nothing to do with going over there.
@Mark Mc Donnell: Well said
@Dulra Cork: GAA is rife with concussions and knee and hip injuries but there is nothing said. Every county/club team nearly always has some player out with said injuries
@Patrick O Connell: Hip injuries in particular. Players twisting and turning on wet ground consistently without the proper warm ups. The day I went to a surgeon he conducted 5 hip operations, the youngest was 30.
@James Elphick: “without proper warms ups” is the least of the issues.
Try an overloaded season for years and you have your cause.
@Buff Egan: spoken like a true hero
What the Fock would you know
@Buff Egan: a statistical analysis of those serious injuries among irish signings would be interesting. The type of phsysical contact allowed in Aussie Rules is certainly different. Does it produce more wear and tear in players over time?
Who is the most recent inter county footballer/hurler to rupture his Achilles?
@Pat Flavin: Michael Fennelly…did it myself as well if dat counts, can still remember the snapping sound
Given the choice again he may have chosen Croke Park with the club tomorrow!!!