After falling down the pecking order at the Emirates Stadium, it was a known fact that Thomas Vermaelen wanted to quit the club in the summer. A possible move to Old Trafford was rumoured before the Belgian agreed a five-year deal with Barcelona.

United had indeed made a move for the centre-back but Arsenal wanted England international Smalling as part of the deal. The Reds firmly declined to sell the 24-year-old with Vermaelen eventually joining Barcelona.

Phil Neville believes his former club were right to reject Arsenal’s demands of including Smalling in the deal. He claimed that Smalling will eventually come good for United even though he is under pressure at the moment, according to Metro.

He said, “I wouldn’t swap Chris Smalling for Thomas Vermaelen. You’re talking about Arsenal’s third choice centre-back who couldn’t get in a side which were leaking goals in the big games, and you’ve got England’s best young centre-back – along with Phil Jones – and you don’t get rid of your English spine. I am certain he’ll come good and I have full faith in Phil Jones as well.”