Chris Smalling says he is “really enjoying Italian football and I think it suits my game, at a big club like Roma.”
Smalling has grown into a fans’ favourite at Roma since arriving from Manchester United on a season-long loan in August, and the defender is glad to have taken the opportunity.
“I’m really enjoying Italian football and I think it does suit my game,” he told Forbes.
Chris Smalling says he is “really enjoying Italian football and I think it suits my game, at a big club like Roma.”
Smalling has grown into a fans’ favourite at Roma since arriving from Manchester United on a season-long loan in August, and the defender is glad to have taken the opportunity.
“I’m really enjoying Italian football and I think it does suit my game,” he told Forbes.
“Hopefully come May I can say I’ve had a good season, the team’s had a good season and it’s been a great success.
“There aren’t too many English players that venture abroad. You are starting to see younger players going abroad on loan and having great success, but I think it’s a shame that more people aren’t venturing out.
“I think having the opportunity to experience Serie A at a big club like Roma was too good to turn down.”
The 29-year-old also told the business magazine he was receiving “four or five Italian lessons a week”.
The Englishman has 31 caps for his country but has not represented them for more than two years, so does he harbour ambitions of returning to the international fold?
“I always hold those ambitions. In terms of the caps that I’ve got, I will always want to add to those to the point where I hang up my boots. I will never turn that down.
“But I think I almost have to focus on myself in terms of the last few years playing regularly with United and now playing regularly here.
“I’m on a stage at big clubs where I can show my talents and I do harbour hopes that if I have a special season then I can be involved again.
“Those ambitions are very much burning bright inside me.”