Smalling signs new deal with LVG
CHRIS SMALLING has signed a three-year contract extension at Manchester United worth in the region of £80,000 a week after turning his career around at Old Trafford.
The 25-year- old England centre back had been linked with a move to Arsenal after struggling to hold down a first-team place at United and being branded ‘stupid’ by manager Louis van Gaal for his red card in the Manchester derby at the Etihad in November.
Smalling was also guilty of several off-field indiscretions and pictures emerged of him wearing a suicide-bomber costume at a fancy- dress party last year. But he has matured under Van Gaal and become a regular starter. He was due to be out of contract next summer but has committed to United until June 2019.
Van Gaal said:: ‘ I am delighted he has signed a new con-ontract. Chris hass improved andd developed immensely during the short time that I have been at the club and has become an integral part of the first-team squad. He always conducts himself in a very professional manner and it is also pleasing that he has scored some important goals this season too.’
Smalling, who cost £10million from Fulham in 2010, has made 147 appearances for United and won two Premier League titles. He has scored four of his ninee United goals this season, with the latest coming in the 42 derby victory oover City at Old Trafford this month.
He said: ‘I am sso proud to play for such a great club. We have developed as a team over the course of the season under Louis van Gaal and we are now playing as a complete unit.
‘This is a very exciting time to be at Manchester United. We are all determined to get back to where we belong and competing at the highest level.’
Meanwhile, Ronald de Boer believes United can pip Bayern Munich and Liverpool to sign £25million-rated PSV winger Memphis Depay.
The Ajax youth team assistant boss suggested the 21year-old could favour a move to United, having played under Van Gaal for Holland.
He told talkSPORT: ‘If he goes to United he knows there is a Dutch coach there who knows him from the World Cup. That is an advantage.’
De Boer also compared Depay to a young Cristiano Ronaldo, adding: ‘He is very lively, technically unbelieva-