Manchester United had no real expectations when they allowed Chris Smalling to go out on loan to Roma last summer. The English defender was low in the pecking order for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and he knew playing time would only further diminish following the long-awaited arrival of Harry Maguire late in the summer transfer window.
A move to Italy made perfect sense. It was odd, but the perfect environment for Smalling to regain his confidence and to do so without the unfair scrutiny which tarnished his later few seasons at United.
The immediate gain for United was extra funds for their squad overhaul and another member cut from a squad overstocked with deadwood.
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