Roma sporting director Gianluca Petrachi admits they want to buy outright on-loan Manchester United defender Chris Smalling.

So impressed is he by the 30-year-old, he hopes Smalling will choose to make his move to Italy a permanent one in the summer.

"There is a chance," Petrachi told the Daily Mail. "The player will choose what to do. If he really wishes, we will be happy to have him with us permanently.

"We are very happy with Smalling and he knows it.

"With Manchester United, the relationship is excellent, we have an excellent feeling with the club."

Petrachi added: "He loves Rome and the Italian lifestyle.

"I think it's obvious how it sounds: it's finally peaceful. Smalling finds himself very well in Rome, lives well and has returned to great levels.

"He follows an Italian course to improve his grasp of the language. This made me very happy because it shows that the boy is intelligent.

"Technically he is very strong. I think it is fundamental for a sporting director to understand how some players can do well. I thought this move could work and I'm happy that the results prove me right."