ROME – Roma have signed English defender Chris Smalling for 15 million euros (RM73 million) from Manchester United, the Serie A club confirmed on Monday.
In a statement, Roma said that the 30-year-old, who scored three goals in 37 appearances in all competitions on loan at the Italian club last season, has signed a deal that would keep him in the Italian capital until the end of June 2023.
Smalling had taken well to life in Rome and earned himself the nickname ‘Smalldini’ following commanding displays in the Roma defence.
“Nothing in life worth having comes easy,” Smalling said.
“My head and my heart has always been in Rome. I am delighted to now be yours. Daje (come on) Roma!”
Smalling was signed by Sir Alex Ferguson in 2010 from Fulham and went on to make 323 appearances for the club, scoring 18 goals.
Roma also announced that they had sold Argentine winger Diego Perotti to Turkish side Fenerbahce on transfer deadline day, ending his five-year spell at the club.
-Manchester United’s second signing-
Earlier on Monday, Manchester United responded to their defensive woes by signing Brazil left-back Alex Telles from Porto for a reported initial fee of £13.5 million (RM73 million).
Just 24 hours after United was thrashed 6-1 by Tottenham, Telles agreed to a four-year contract with the option to extend by a further year.
The 27-year-old is set to replace Luke Shaw left-back as United’s manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer tries to plug the holes in his leaky defence.
“To join a club with the prestige of Manchester United is a huge honour. You have to work hard to get to this moment in your career and now I am coming to this club, I can promise that I will give everything in my heart to be a success here,” Telles told United's website.
“I won many trophies at FC Porto and I want to continue that at United. The manager has a clear plan and direction for this team and I can't wait to pull on the famous shirt.”
Solskjaer added: “First and foremost, I welcome Alex to United. He is a player we have been tracking for some time and his performances over the past few years are exactly what we are looking for.”
“He is a fighter and a winner and will add real determination and competition to the squad.”
“Alex has the qualities, both as a player and as a person that we want here at Manchester United.”
Telles, who won league titles among a number of honours at both Porto and Turkish side Galatasaray, is United’s second major signing since the end of last season after the arrival of Ajax midfielder Donny van de Beek.
United followed the Telles swoop by announcing they had reached an agreement to sign teenage winger Amad Diallo from Serie A side Atalanta.
The 18-year-old Ivorian has been on the radar of United’s scouts since 2016 when he was spotted playing at Under-15 level.
Diallo scored on his Serie A debut in the first of three first-team appearances last season, after rising through the youth ranks at Atalanta.
He will join United in January, subject to medical, personal terms and a work permit, with the initial fee reported to be £20 million (RM108 million).
With just hours left before the transfer window closed on Monday, United was also close to signing former Paris Saint-Germain striker Edinson Cavani on a free transfer. – AFP, October 6, 2020
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