Roma defender Chris Smalling is happy to have signed a new contract.

The England international penned new terms with Roma at the end of last season.

He told La Gazzetta dello Sport: "I had a very clear desire to stay in Rome, where I've always been very happy. I spoke to Mourinho, Pinto and the owners, I listened to the ambitions and I had no hesitations. Then with these fans..."

Smalling also focused on the Champions League that the Capitoline haven't played in since the 2018-19 season.

He said: "Too long, for a club like Roma it's the minimum goal. This too must give us the push for greater consistency. We're not happy to be finished behind Lazio and that they play in the Champions League and we don't. But I'm sure this will give us the right motivation to go back up."