Fonseca says he wants to keep Smalling and Mkhitaryan

Roma head coach Paulo Fonseca wants to keep the defender Chris Smalling and midfielder Henrikh Mkhitaryan, Goal reported.

"Chris is a great, great man, a great, great professional," Fonseca told Sky Sports News. "The adaptation [to Italian football] was very easy for him. He's a boy that everyone loves in the club because he is a great professional.

"I would like Chris to stay. We are speaking. I don't know if it is possible because of the situation with Manchester United, but I would like so much for Chris to stay here with us because he is very important.

"He is a great player, a great man with a great attitude every day and for all of these reasons I would be very happy if Chris stays."

"Mkhi during this season got some injuries but he is returning now and he is proving his quality," Fonseca said.
"Let's see. He is a player with great decisions on the pitch and I would also like to keep Mkhi in our team."

The rights to Smalling belong to Manchester United, which requires EUR 20 million for him. The rights to Mkhitaryan belong to the Arsenal, which refused to part with him for EUR 10 million.

Follow NEWS.am SPORT on Facebook, Twitter and Telegram