September 15th 2024.
It seems that Chris Smalling's move to Saudi Arabia has not gone as smoothly as he had hoped. The veteran defender, who had spent five successful seasons with Roma in the Italian Serie A, joined Al Fayha earlier this month. However, his debut for the Saudi Pro League side was one to forget, as he scored an own goal and was sent off in a 5-0 defeat.
Al Fayha, while not considered one of the strongest teams in the league, have had a disappointing start to their season, losing all three of their opening games. Smalling's debut certainly did not help their cause, as they were already trailing 3-0 by half-time, with him inadvertently adding to their woes in the sixth minute.
To make matters worse, the Englishman was shown a straight red card in the 55th minute, leaving his team to play with ten men for the remainder of the game. Al Raed, the opposing team, went on to score two more goals after Smalling's departure, sealing an embarrassing defeat for Al Fayha.
One can only hope that this is just a rough start for Smalling in his new club, and that things will improve from here on out. After all, the 34-year-old has had a successful career so far, and it would be a shame for it to be overshadowed by one bad game.
Prior to joining Al Fayha, Smalling had been a fan favorite at Roma, and he made sure to express his gratitude to the club and its supporters in a heartfelt message on Instagram. He mentioned how the city of Rome had welcomed him and his family with open arms, and how it will always hold a special place in his heart, especially as it is where his son was born.
Despite his departure, Smalling's love and admiration for Roma will remain forever, and he thanked everyone involved with the club for their support and contribution to his time there. He also wished the team good luck for the rest of the season, showing his class and sportsmanship even in the midst of a difficult situation.
As for Manchester United, Smalling's former club, they will surely be monitoring the situation closely. The English club has been making headlines lately, and not just for their on-field performances. Sign up now to receive exclusive news, analysis, and updates on Manchester United, as well as the latest privacy policy.
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