Chelsea passed on Smalling

CHELSEA passed up the chance to sign Manchester United-bound Chris Smalling, right, for free, according to the player’s former manager at Maidstone.

The 20-year-old completed his medical at Old Trafford last week and will link up with the Red Devils from July 2010 on a four-year contract from Fulham.

But it could have all been different for Smalling, with Chelsea passing up the opportunity to sign him.