Almunia open to England call-up

[Dellas]

Arsenal goalkeeper Manuel Almunia has not ruled out the possibility of representing England in the future.
The 30-year-old has yet to be capped by Spain and will qualify to play for England in a year's time having spent four years with the north London club.
"They (Spain) have never, never called me," said Almunia.
"If other people want me, I have to study my situation and take a decision because it is good for me - I will not close myself to anything."
Almunia has been in impressive form having kept 11 clean sheets in 22 games this season, relegating Germany international Jens Lehmann to the substitutes' bench.


But his performances have yet to convince Spain manager Luis Aragones, who has a plethora of world-class goalkeepers at his disposal, including Real Madrid's Iker Casillas, Valencia's Santiago Canizares and Liverpool's Pepe Reina.
Almunia's admission could give new England manager Fabio Capello a further option to explore as he looks for a long-term solution to the goalkeeping dilemma.
"I always say I have to wait to see what is happening at that moment, or which goalkeeper England has, or which goalkeeper Spain has, look at the situation and take a decision," said the Pamplona-born keeper.
"It would be a big decision but I wouldn't care if I had two days to take it."
Almunia said he has been overwhelmed by the support of the Arsenal fans ever since he joined the club from Celta Vigo in 2004.


"If you give them a little thing I think they love you, and that's fantastic. That doesn't happen in Spain, no," he said.
"That's because in England the people are more passionate and the people here are more humble. "If they receive something, even a little thing, they give you double. For a player that's unbelievable."

source: BBC SPORT | Football | My Club | Arsenal | Almunia open to England call-up

Would the England fans on this forum like him to be your number 1??

I personally think that England have a few talented keepers like Robert Green and Ben Foster..I think that they should be given a proper chance before Almunia is called up if Capello does call him.
I know Green has made a few mistakes as England keeper but still all keepers will have bad days just look at him for West ham he is very important to their defence

[Cantona7]

Originally Posted by Dellas

source: BBC SPORT | Football | My Club | Arsenal | Almunia open to England call-up

Would the England fans on this forum like him to be your number 1??

I personally think that England have a few talented keepers like Robert Green and Ben Foster..I think that they should be given a proper chance before Almunia is called up if Capello does call him.
I know Green has made a few mistakes as England keeper but still all keepers will have bad days just look at him for West ham he is very important to their defence

Your having a laugh mate. It's bad enough have foreign managers and we are going to recruit foreign players because of residency rules. This would be yet another kick in the teeth for English footballers. Its an insult if you ask me. At this rate we will not only have a premier league with non english players but a national team as well. Definitely NO.

[kyan]

It's not gonna happen.

If we were talking about a real world-beater, who somehow slipped under the radar of another country) then I'd probably be for it which is a bit hypocritical but still...

But I'm not altogether keen on the whole thing where people can choose to play for another country cos they're not deemed good enough for their own unless they're as desperate to play for that country as the normal man on the street.

In this case, Almunia isn't really much better than what we have (assuming what we have & Almunia are both on top form- Robinson, Foster, Carson, James & Green are all surely as good or better than Almunia on top form?).

And he wouldn't give anything to play for England, so I don't want it to happen and I don't think it will.

[russe||]

regardless of whether he has British citizenship or not he is a Spaniard and because of that I don't want him anywhere near the England team.

I think the residency rule is a disgrace and should be repealed.