With Manchester United welcoming Roma to Old Trafford tonight, the two sides will face off for the seventh time in their history.
Between them, Manchester United and Roma boast an extraordinary collection of honours, with a combined 57 major trophies to their names—although United account for the lion's share.
Their histories have also featured some of football's most celebrated players, including numerous World Cup winners.
There is another, more unusual connection between the two clubs. Just five players have represented both sides, all of whom played for Manchester United before turning out for Roma.
Here is how the five players rank, from worst to best, based on their contributions at Old Trafford.
5. Gabriel Heinze
Manchester United -2004-2007
Roma - 2011-2012
Had Gabriel Heinze had a better end to his career at Manchester United, it is likely that not only would his name have moved right up this list, but his trophy cabinet would also be a lot more sparkling, with Heinze likely to have got his hands on a Champions League medal had he stayed just one more season.
Arriving at Manchester United from Paris Saint-Germain in 2004, he quickly established himself as a popular figure among supporters. The Argentine defender was an uncompromising presence at left-back, earning the club's Player of the Year award in his debut season and helping Ferguson's side win the Premier League in 2006.
However, an injury in 2005 sidelined him for most of the season, forcing Ferguson to bring in then-Monaco left-back Patrice Evra.
When Heizne returned to fitness, he was placed out of position at centre-back and quickly became disillusioned with Ferguson. He attempted to force a move to Liverpool before finally settling on Real Madrid.
His one-year stint at Roma would see him play 32 times across all competitions, as he helped I Giallorossi to a 7th-place finish.
4. Henrikh Mkhitaryan
Manchester United - 2016-2018
Roma - 2020-2022
Henrikh Mkhitaryan arrived at Manchester United in the summer of 2016 as one of the most exciting attacking players in the world, having just come off a stellar season with Borussia Dortmund.
His career at United, however, was a mixed bag. There were flashes of brilliance—his scorpion-kick goal against Sunderland being one of them—but the Armenian struggled to replicate the form he showed in Germany.
Nevertheless, Mkhitaryan is written into the club's history, with the midfielder scoring the second in the 2017 Europa League final, ensuring that United would clasp their hands around Europe’s secondary competition for the first time.
After just a year and a half in red, Mkhitaryan would be involved in one of the most calamitous swap deals in Premier League history, with United earning the signature of Alexis Sanchez—who they would pay £350,000 a week for just 45 matches played and five goals scored.
Mkhitaryan would find success playing for Arsenal, spent three seasons at Roma, where he won the UEFA Conference League, before transferring to Inter Milan, where he has remained since.
3. Nemanja Matic
Manchester United - 2017-2022
Roma - 2022-2023
There are few players on this list who offered the same level of consistency as Nemanja Matic during their time at Manchester United.
Signed from Chelsea in 2017, the Serbian midfielder quickly became an important part of Mourinho's midfield, providing the defensive discipline and composure that had often been missing from United's side.
Across his five years at the club, Matic would be unable to grasp his hands around any major honours, coming runner-up in the Premier League, FA Cup, and Europa League.
Despite his lack of silverware, Matic is remembered as a headstrong midfielder who commanded the middle of the pitch in the Mourinho and Ole Gunnar Solksjaer reigns.
He and current United keeper—out on loan at Trabzonspor—got into a heated social media feud in April of 2025 as Matic—then at Lyon—called the Cameroonian one of the worst midfielders in Manchester United’s history.
Matic would play just one season for Roma in the 2022/23 season, appearing 50 times, scoring twice.
2. Romelu Lukaku
Manchester United - 2017-2019
Roma - 2023-2024
Arriving from Everton in the summer of 2017, there was belief around the United camp that the £75 million striker would fire United back into the glory days.
His debut campaign was impressive, scoring 27 goals in all competitions and providing a consistent attacking outlet. However, his second season proved considerably more difficult, with questions surrounding his first touch, link-up play and suitability to Mourinho's tactical approach.
Despite scoring a semi-what impressive 42 goals in 96 games, Lukaku was shipped out to Inter Milan in 2019 after just two seasons at the club.
His impact cannot be understated, however. Despite many fans remember his ballooning first-touch and his weight issues, the Belgian was a powerhouse up front, and played a key part in one of United’s most successful European nights, scoring twice as the Red Devils beat Paris Saint-Germain 3-1 to progress to the 2019 Champions League quarter-finals.
Lukaku would later return to the Premier League—on a whopping £97.5m deal with Chelsea—and played one season on loan at Roma, where he scored 21 times across 47 games.
1. Chris Smalling
Manchester United - 2010-2020
Roma - 2020-2024
Perhaps an unexpected choice for first place, but Chris Smalling's Manchester United career deserves considerably more appreciation than it sometimes receives.
Arriving from Fulham in 2010, the English defender spent a decade at Old Trafford, making more than 290 appearances and winning one Premier League title, an FA Cup, a League Cup and the Europa League.
Out of the five players who have donned the famous red jersey of United, and the yellow and red of Roma, he has played the most games, won the most honours, and overall been by far the best player.
He is one of just two players to win a major honour with both clubs, and whilst his performances will remain scrutinised at both clubs, he has delivered important moments. His match-winner against Manchester City in an enthralling 3-2 victory lives on in the minds of many United supporters, with the English centre-back preventing his rivals from capturing the Premier League title for at least another week.
Add us as a preferred source on Google