The long-running saga of Chris Smalling’s exit from Manchester United took a new twist last summer after Italian Serie A giants Inter Milan proposed a swap deal for the player.
As per the report from Italian transfer news portal Calciomercato, Inter Milan wanted to take advantage of AS Roma’s sluggish move for Chris Smalling by offering winger Ivan Perisic in exchange for the player.
AS Roma have been in talks with Manchester United for weeks over the permanent transfer of Chris Smalling but they did not make any breakthrough.
Roma’s CEO Guido Fienga also claimed that Manchester United wanted to keep fantastic defender, who finally joined them last summer on a permanent basis.
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The 31-year-old England international had a successful loan spell at AS Roma last season before his permanent deal. He scored three goals plus two assists in 31 appearances.
AS Roma also sealed a deal for centre back Marash Kumbulla from Hellas Verona worth €30m and that would have been the reason they soften their stance on the need to sign Chris Smalling last summer.
Inter Milan were looking to capitalize on the situation by offering long-term Manchester United target Ivan Perisic in a swap deal.
Croatian international Perisic spent last season on loan at Bayern Munich as the Germans won a historic treble.
