Chris Smalling Addresses Roma Fans, Dismisses Transfer Speculations and Shares Insights on Prolonged Injury

Roma defender Chris Smalling has directly addressed the club’s supporters, providing clarity on the situation related to his prolonged injury. Recent speculations suggested that Smalling had sought a transfer from the Italian capital and declined to play under Jose Mourinho, who publicly criticized his reluctance to return to the field in various press conferences.

Taking to his Instagram profile in an uploaded story today, Smalling expressed, “Since joining Roma in 2019, my commitment and loyalty to the club have remained unwavering. Roma is my home, and the bond I’ve formed with AS Roma fans is something I hold dear.”

Addressing the circulating rumors, he emphasized, “I want to clarify that I have never requested nor even considered leaving this great club. In all transparency, the past few months have been among the most frustrating of my career.”

Acknowledging the challenges of an injury beyond his control, Smalling stated, “No footballer wishes to spend time in a treatment room, and this period away from my teammates has been a personal challenge, marked by setbacks. While prioritizing the needs of my teammates, the medical team’s primary goal is to ensure my significant contribution in the latter part of this season and beyond.”

Dispelling misconceptions, Smalling clarified, “I have been receptive to all solutions, both short and long-term. Any suggestion that I’ve dictated a treatment plan is untrue. With surgery not recommended by any specialist I consulted, I must trust the guidance of experts in my recovery plan, which does involve, contrary to belief, painkillers – a considerable amount, in fact.”

Highlighting the ultimate aim, he affirmed, “The absolute priority is ensuring I can contribute to AS Roma at the highest level for years to come. Your patience and loyalty during my journey back to peak form are genuinely appreciated. I look forward to reuniting with you all soon.”

Smalling also took the opportunity to thank Jose Mourinho and his team for their support over the past three seasons and welcomed Daniele to the club. He concluded with a rallying cry, “Forza Roma.”