Soccer's Chris Smalling On Ethical Investing, Veganism And Life On Loan In Rome

Chris Smalling was six weeks away from going to university when his life took an unexpected turn.

He had a place to study financial economics but the then 18-year-old got an even better offer - to play soccer in the Premier League. A year-and-a-half later he was playing for Manchester United, one of the biggest clubs in the world.

It's been a whirlwind decade but Smalling, now 29 and on loan at AS Roma in Serie A, is returning to an early passion.

He has always been interested in business and remembers growing up watching BBC show Dragons' Den, where emerging entrepreneurs pitch to potential multimillionaire investors.

Now, in an exclusive interview, Smalling has revealed his own high-profile investment - the first of what he hopes will become a "little portfolio".

Smalling has acquired a stake in Ananas Anam, a company that manufactures and sells Piñatex. Made from pineapple leaf fibres - a waste product of pineapple harvest - Piñatex markets itself as a sustainable alternative to leather and petroleum-based textiles.

Piñatex is developed by Dr. Carmen Hijosa, a former leather consultant, and has been used by fashion giants including Hugo Boss and H&M.

"Earlier this year my wife (Sam) and I saw a post on Instagram about an alternative to animal and synthetic material. We saw Piñatex were releasing some shoes with Hugo Boss," Smalling told me in an interview.

"I bought a pair of the trainers and we looked a little bit more into the company, the brand and its story, and it was just something we were really impressed with."

The investment is understood to be an initial six-figure amount, with scope to increase.

Smalling said the sustainability of the product and the potential to develop into the sportswear market were important factors.

"For a while now I've been wanting to dip my toes in and get involved with some companies or brands that share the same aspirations and values that I do," he said.

"I consider it a good investment because I think we are living in times where people not only want a quality product, they want to know the story behind it, to know it's sustainable.

"This value, I believe, will only become more important to consumers."

An alternative to the "barbaric" leather production process was another appealing aspect of the business.

"Although health was the initial reason for me starting to go to vegan, it was the animal welfare that really converted me," Smalling said.

"Because I started on this plant-based journey, I think my eyes were then opened to all the elements. Leather production for me is barbaric and it involves so much cruelty that I think a product like Piñatex has been needed for a long time."

Smalling, who also has a property business with a partner, is keen to invest in ethically-minded companies and acknowledges his responsibility as a high-profile player to publicly support sustainable products.

"Even a few years ago, I was never really on social media and I kept myself quite private. But I feel like as I've got older, especially the last few years, I think I'm at a point where I can use that platform to be able to spread a positive message and set an example," he said.

"I spoke to a few other brands, not just within the clothing sector but also within food, or any field that I think I can have an impact.

"I definitely see myself in a few years being able to have a little stable (of investments) where I can really get involved."

In December, it will be three years since the soccer player went vegan, and he has become an advocate for plant-based diets and animal welfare.

"My wife was vegan for maybe a year or two and I wasn't. We were having a lot of plant-based dishes in the evening and she's a very good cook. So I was enjoying the food and that started to lead me down that journey," he said.

"I took it upon myself to watch a couple of documentaries and read a couple of books on the effects on our health and the environment, animal welfare, etc.

"Once I knew the facts it was hard to ignore. I guess I realized my tastebuds weren't more important than the pain of all of these animals and the future of the planet."

Smalling's unusual path to the pinnacle of his profession gives him a unique investing perspective.

Before signing for Fulham in the Premier League, Smalling was at school and playing part-time with non-league club Maidstone United. He was also working - riding his bike to a local hotel where he was initially a kitchen porter, before graduating to waiter.

Within a couple of years, he was playing for Manchester United in the richest league in the world.

"I've definitely seen the flipside and how quickly things can develop," he said.

"Growing up my mum never had too much so a lot of what I earned obviously went towards paying for things around the house.

"So being in the fortunate position that I am and having a career that's kicked on each year has been really important in terms of making sure I do look after my money and make smart decisions.

"If I can make smart decisions and have a social impact as well as being personally invested in it, I think it's perfect."

In an industry where injury or loss of form can end your career in a flash, Smalling believes more players should be counselled on the benefits of smartly investing their money.

"I'd like to think whoever's part of their team will be having those conversations. But I know that probably not enough are because I think the beauty of football is you're often only focused on the next game," he said.

"I think it's important to be surrounded by a team that can give you good guidance and good advice, because ultimately I started 10 years ago on my football journey and it just feels like time has flown."

The latest chapter in that journey brought Smalling to Rome at the end of August, on a season-long loan to AS Roma from Manchester United.

"I'm really enjoying Italian football and I think it does suit my game. Hopefully come May I can say I've had a good season, the team's had a good season and it's been a great success," he said.

"There aren't too many English players that venture abroad. You are starting to see younger players going abroad on loan and having great success, but I think it's a shame that more people aren't venturing out.

"I think having the opportunity to experience Serie A at a big club like Roma was too good to turn down."

Between "four or five Italian lessons a week", growing his investment portfolio, working as a patron for charity Football Beyond Borders and caring for his five-month-old son, Smalling has a busy off-field life. But one thing he will always make time for is England, should the national team come calling.

He has not played for England for more than two years but, with the European Championships next year, would never refuse a return.

"I always hold those ambitions. In terms of the caps that I've got, I will always want to add to those to the point where I hang up my boots. I will never turn that down," he said.

"But I think I almost have to focus on myself in terms of the last few years playing regularly with United and now playing regularly here. I'm on a stage at big clubs where I can show my talents and I do harbour hopes that if I have a special season then I can be involved again.

"Those ambitions are very much burning bright inside me."