games and, of course, I would love a call-up
for Euro 2020 ”
Whatever the immediate future holds for
him, there is much more to be said about Chris
Smalling. He is not only an excellent footballer
but also a modern one, open to new ideas such
as the vegan diet which, thanks to wife Sam,
he has now followed for three years. He claims
that the diet – no meat, fish, milk or eggs –
has helped cure his knee tendonitis while also
speeding up his recovery after games.
And as someone who grew up in a household
where money was tight, it is no surprise he
keeps an eye out for the disadvantaged via
Football Beyond Borders, a British social charity,
which helps disadvantaged kids who
might be passionate about football but
who fall a bit by the wayside at school.
Interview by Paddy Agnewthat going to these trials was just a bit of a
bonus. For me, university was Plan A, football
was Plan B.”
And Plan B, via Fulham and then Manchester
United, worked out very nicely. So where does
Plan C take him?
Right now, he makes no secret of the fact
he wants to stay with Roma and says: “The
manager here is very ambitious. Obviously
getting back into the Champions League is one
of the things he wants to do and if we could win
the Europa League along the way, that would be
fantastic too.”
What might also be fantastic would be for him
to reclaim a place in the England team. He has
not played international football since June 2017
but could his current good form earn a recall?
Has he heard from England manager Gareth
Southgate recently and does he still hope for
a call-up to the Euro 2020 squad?
Smalling admits: “No, I haven’t spoken to him
but I know he has watched some of my recent
SMALLING AND THE
PREMIER LEAGUE EXODUSChris Smalling is part of a new wave of players
who have relocated to Serie A from the
Premier League, including a number of former
team-mates at Manchester United who have
been deemed surplus to requirements of late.
Romelu Lukaku has been in impressive form
for Internazionale since moveing there last
summer, and he was joined there by United
loanee Alexis Sanchez, who has been sidelined
with an ankle injury.
In January, Ashley Young, whose United
contract had been set to expire this summer,
also joined Inter, on a short-term deal with
an option to extend next season. Young was
joined at Inter by Spurs’ Christian Eriksen and
Victor Moses, on loan from Chelsea.
Inter coach Antonio Conte believes from his
time at Chelsea that the intensity of Premier
League football can benefit his side in Serie A.
So far he seems to have been proved right,
with Inter leading the challenge to defending
champions Juventus.Test...getting
to grips with
Cristiano Ronaldo