Former Manchester United star Chris Smalling’s disastrous debut in Saudi Pro League

Chris Smalling has had a bad start to life in Saudi Arabia (Picture: Getty Images)

Chris Smalling had a debut to forget for Saudi Pro League side Al Fayha, scoring an own goal and being sent-off in a 5-0 defeat.

The 34-year-old was at Roma for five seasons but left Serie A for Saudi Arabia earlier this month, joining the team managed by Christos Kontis.

Al Fayha are not one of the powerhouses of the Saudi Pro League and Smalling’s debut saw them lose their third straight game at the start of the season, leaving them bottom of the table.

The 5-0 loss to Al Raed saw Smalling stick the ball in his own net after just six minutes and the away team score twice more before half-time.

The Englishman was then shown a straight red card on 55 minutes, with Al Raed scoring twice more after his departure.

The England international will be hoping that the only way is up from that start to life in Saudi Arabia.

On leaving Roma, the centre-back posted an emotional message thanking the fans in the Italian capital for their support throughout his stay there.

Smalling won the Europa Conference League title with Roma in 2022 (Picture: Getty Images)

‘When we arrived in Rome in 2019, my family and I were greeted with kindness and warmth. You immediately made me feel at home in Rome. With the birth of my son, the city will forever have a special place in my heart,’ Smalling wrote on Instagram.

‘But all the good stories are bound to end and it’s time for me to let go. My love and admiration for AS Roma will remain forever.

‘To the football players I’ve shared the locker room and the field with, to the coaches I’ve played with, to all the staff who work behind the scenes whose work often goes unnoticed, and to you the fans, THANK YOU SO MUCH: it has been an absolute honor. Good luck for the rest of the season.’

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