Chris Smalling has said Ole Gunnar Solskjaer told him he "would get games" at Manchester United before the defender joined Roma on loan.
The England international fell down the pecking order after the signing of Harry Maguire from Leicester City, prompting the two-time Premier League winner to sign for the Italian giants.
Speaking to Sam Wallace of the Telegraph (h/t the Manchester Evening News' Daniel Murphy), Smalling said it would have been easier to stay at Old Trafford, but he is enthused by the challenge of playing in Serie A.