CHRIS SMALLING is doing everything he can to make himself settle in at Roma – including bringing his dogs over in a camper van.
The English defender joined the Italian giants on a season-long loan after realising he would not get as much game time as he wanted at Old Trafford.
After spending his first few weeks in a hotel, Smalling has now moved into a 700-year old house with wife Sam, five-month-old baby Leo and dogs Ruben and Miley.
Speaking to The Athletic, Smalling said: "My wife has always been supportive. She said: ‘If you want to move, we’ll all move. We’ll do what’s best for your football.’ I knew she’d say that, which I appreciated. So I moved.
"I lived in a hotel for a month and we moved into a beautiful house last week. It’s 700 hundred years old, just outside Rome. It’s surrounded by greenery which is important with our dogs.
"My mother-in-law has got a camper van and she brought our dogs here.
"I got back home at 10pm to see them for the first time in six weeks. The little one was p***ed off with me because I’d left her for so long, the bigger one was happy to see me.
"Everyone is here now and that feels good. I’ve had to change my wardrobe because I’ve been living in shorts and t-shirts. It was 28 degrees at the end of October – that’s a perk."
Smalling was penalised for a questionable handball in last week's Europa League clash with Borussia Monchengladbach – the ball hit him in the face – but grabbed his first goal for the club in the 4-0 win over Udinese, prodding in at the back post.
He has now played seven games for the Italians and can speak English with centre-back partner Federico Fazio as well as midfielder Gianluca Mancini.
But the former Fulham man knows it is important that he works on learning the language to help him get the most out of his year abroad, especially when linking up with team-mates on the field.
Smalling added: "It’s not easy. It doesn’t help that so many people speak English.
"I could get by off the pitch just speaking English, though I need to speak Italian on the pitch. I know the key words already.
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Happy International Dog Day ?♥️
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My boys ? (minus Ruben)
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Congratulations to the beautiful couple! We’re very happy for you @1rosiejones & @thebodycoach ?? ?? Thanks for sharing your special day with us! ❤️
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"But it’s important to me to make the effort to learn Italian.
"It’s not ideal when the foreign lads come to England and their English isn’t great years later.
"Speaking the language makes a big difference off the pitch. I’m not going to be totally fluent by the end, but I’ll try my best."
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I participate in activism not because I’m a perfect human who does no wrong, but because I see how destructive we are as the human race. I see that the system needs to change and I see that our mindsets and actions need to change, myself included. I still make choices that aren’t always ideal but I’m trying to make more and more conscious choices that don’t have a negative impact. We can all try, and we all should. If not for ourselves, for our children ? Leo had a great day! It was amazing to see all the school and college kids that got involved. It’s sad that it’s come to this but great that we have such an amazing, passionate and conscious younger generation to bring about positive change ? . . . . . #climatestrike #climatestrikemanchester #globalclimatestrike #bethechange #forabetterworld #vegan #veganfamily #veganbaby
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Benz Restaurant ??? #thailand #kohkood
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You’re always there to support me and allow me to grow and become the truest version of myself. You provide all the love and strength I need and I’ll be forever grateful for that. You’re the yin to my yang, perfectly imperfect together. Happy anniversary my king, I love you ? @smalling
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