Manchester United defender Chris Smalling has revealed that he gave up the opportunity to go to university in order to sign for then-Fulham manager Roy Hodgson.

Around seven years ago, Smalling penned a contract at Craven Cottage and spent two years playing for Fulham before joining United in 2010.

"I was planning to go to uni," The Independent quotes Smalling as saying. "I had my exams in a month or two, but was offered a trial by Fulham and thought I had nothing to lose.

"I went along with my mum and my brother, but already had the back-up plan of going to uni. I had places to study financial economics at Leicester and Loughborough."

Smalling's long-term club future remains uncertain as his contract is due to expire at the end of next season, but the defender has expressed a desire to stay at Old Trafford.