Manuel Almunia, Arsenal's Spanish goalkeeper, has justified speculation that he could play for England, revealing that he would gladly don the gloves for the Three Lions...Almunia has been in England for the best part of five years, having signed for Arsenal in 2004 after a relatively underwhelming career in his homeland.
Initially drafted in as a back-up to Jens Lehmann, the 31-year-old finally displaced his German counterpart last season and has gone on to cement his place as the Gunners' numero uno.
Almunia will be eligible for British citizenship next year and, should he take it, would be allowed to accept a call-up from Fabio Capello.
England's goalkeeping stocks have been thin of late, with Portsmouth's David James enjoying an extended run in the side after leapfrogging Paul Robinson and Scott Carson.
And Almunia said in The Sun: “The opportunity is there and I’ll follow it for as long as the possibility of playing for England remains open.
“I don’t think playing for Spain is an option — they have enough keepers — it’s not their biggest problem.
“If I got a British passport then I would be able to play for England and, at the moment, I feel very English.
“I am very happy living in this country. The people are always very welcoming and I have made many friends.”
I want to play for England
Manuel Almunia, Arsenal's Spanish goalkeeper, has justified speculation that he could play for England, revealing that he would gladly don the gloves for the Three Lions...Almunia has been in England for the best part of five years, having signed for Arsenal in 2004 after a relatively underwhelming career in his homeland.
Initially drafted in as a back-up to Jens Lehmann, the 31-year-old finally displaced his German counterpart last season and has gone on to cement his place as the Gunners' numero uno.
Almunia will be eligible for British citizenship next year and, should he take it, would be allowed to accept a call-up from Fabio Capello.
England's goalkeeping stocks have been thin of late, with Portsmouth's David James enjoying an extended run in the side after leapfrogging Paul Robinson and Scott Carson.
And Almunia said in The Sun: “The opportunity is there and I’ll follow it for as long as the possibility of playing for England remains open.
“I don’t think playing for Spain is an option — they have enough keepers — it’s not their biggest problem.
“If I got a British passport then I would be able to play for England and, at the moment, I feel very English.
“I am very happy living in this country. The people are always very welcoming and I have made many friends.”
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