Chris Smalling says he was shocked at the way Manchester United handled his departure from the club.
The 30-year-old joined Serie A giants Roma on a permanent transfer this summer after a successful loan spell last season, when he was deemed surplus to requirements following the signing of Harry Maguire.
Smalling says he was only told late in the window that he wouldnât be needed at Old Trafford â a decision which left him in "a sh*t situation".
âI guess that was maybe the lowest point at United,â Smalling told the Telegraph.
âThat was the shock I didnât expect. How it was handled... if I was told earlier that summer - and I donât want to have a dig at Ole - I would have made other plans.
âI knew that my days under Ole were pretty much numbered. I was just a bit frustrated.
âOne, I would like to have been told earlier and then, secondly, I was only able to go with just a day left of the Italian window being open.
âThe English window had shut. I was left in a very sh*t situation. I had to decide. After I had that chat [with Solskjaer] it was a case [from him] of, âIâm not sure when your next game will beâ.
âIn an ideal situation I would have known early in the summer and made plans and it almost got to the stage where I had a day left.
âMy wife had just had a kid as well. There was a lot going on that happened at the last minute.â
Despite his disappointment, Smalling bounced back in Italy, making 37 appearances in his first season and helping Paulo Fonsecaâs side to a fifth-place finish.
His move was made permanent this summer despite at one point seeming unlikely due to the England internationalâs price tag, but Roma were keen to keep him.
Smalling missed the start of the 2020-21 season through injury but returned before the international break, and will be hoping his new side can keep up their early-season form which sees them fourth in the table. Roma host 15th-place Parma on Sunday.