Chris Smalling’s Algarve meeting with Porto, and a move now close | OneFootball

Chris Smalling, 36, has made 611 senior appearances, mostly in Europe, and has only once faced FC Porto, a pre-season friendly in the Algarve. According to O Jogo, the centre-back is close to joining on a one-year deal with an option for a further season, is a free agent who can sign now, and is already in Porto for medical tests to finalise terms.

That meeting came on 28 July 2021 in Lagoa, late in pre-season. José Mourinho’s Roma drew 1-1 with Sérgio Conceição’s Porto, Gianluca Mancini scoring on 56 minutes before Vitinha levelled on 89.

Smalling played the full 90 minutes in that game.

His past two seasons were with Al Fayha in Saudi Arabia. Before that he spent nine years at Manchester United and five at Roma, with earlier spells at Fulham and Maidstone United.

He has 31 caps for England and one international goal.

Source: O Jogo

“Artificial intelligence was used to assist in creating this article based on reporting from the original source quoted.”