Why is it important a footballer learns the language of the country in which he plays? The sunshine is pouring into the room at Roma’s training ground, and Chris Smalling is considering all the famous team-mates at Manchester United who came from overseas and were quickly fluent, and also that old trope of the English footballer, who speaks English and only English.

“You do see very few English players going abroad and those that do are largely good players otherwise they wouldn’t have gone,” he says, “but I feel a lot of their downfall is in the language. On the pitch you can learn the different basics of ‘left’, ‘right’ and ‘behind you’ but off the pitch you want to have that influence around the team.

“We will be traveling together as a team so it is important to communicate as much as I can. That helps me be more comfortable around my team-mates. It makes the experience a lot better. Maybe where some English players are not fully committed to the language, off the pitch it is a big divide. By learning I can bring us closer and get to know them as soon as I can.”

How soon before he starts? He points across at a member of Roma’s staff who looks trim enough to be the fitness coach. “That’s the club’s language teacher - I already have,” he says. “A little and often is the plan.”