Arsenal
Arsenal Transfer News: Outcast Agrees Move
Arsenal goalkeeper Manuel Almunia is close to joining Italian side Fiorentina, after the Gunner outcast is released from the club at the end of the month.
Arsenal goalkeeper Manuel Almunia has agreed to join Italian side Fiorentina, according to talkSPORT.
Almunia joined the Gunners from La Liga outfit Celta Vigo in 2004 and has gone on to make 175 appearances for the club.
However, the Spaniard has become an outcast at the Emirates after losing his number one shirt to Wojciech Szczesny. He failed to make a single first team appearance last term after boss Arsene Wenger left him out of the clubs squad of 25, and he spent time on loan in the championship with West Ham.
The 35-year-old is now set to be released from the club at the end of the month when his contract expires, and talkSPORT claim he will then join Serie A club Fiorentina after the Florence side failed to land Palermo stopper Emiliano Viviano.
FT Verdict
Manuel has always been an honest guy who tried his best for the club, but sadly he just didn’t have the required talent to make it at Arsenal
Read more Arsenal transfer news
Now we’ve got him off the wage bill, it’s time to get rid of more of the deadwood Arsene!
Who would you like Wenger to sign this summer? Get involved in the comments section.
davi
June 29, 2012 at 11:55 am
He was great for one season (07/08) in which we deserved the title, and he had nothing to do with why we didn’t manage it. That, and the few unbelievable saves he made from time to time, showed that he had the talent in there somewhere, but I don’t think he had the personality to be the no.1 keeper at a title-challenging club.
Steve
June 29, 2012 at 11:57 am
Plz Mr prof.all we need now is for u to sign M’villa,Hoilet & keep Rvp.thanks.gunner till i die
Darren
June 29, 2012 at 11:59 am
Wish you all the best, provided some excellent performances but ultimatley failed to be consistant. People forget that he demoted Lens to the bench.
I really respect the way he has handled this situation and Na$ri could learn a lot from him.
Once again all the best, I really hope he’s finds a club where he can enjoy he’s football.
paul
June 29, 2012 at 12:25 pm
I wish him well too. Sadly his mind didnt seem on the game when he played his last few games for us. I hope it works out well for him
Michael Staley
June 29, 2012 at 12:47 pm
I agree with the comments thus far about Almunia. At times he was a good goalkeeper, and clearly had talent, but wasn’t consistent enough. I too wish him well.
I agree also about the 07/08 season. For the most part, that team played the most attractive Arsenal football I can remember.
davi
June 29, 2012 at 1:34 pm
Yes that could have been a great side. It’s a shame Eduardo had to get injured because that seemed to be the turning point, and it’s arguable that it had a domino affect, ruining morale, bringing out the worst in Gallas, causing a rift with Kolo. Had the injury not happened, and we’d won the league, it’s conceivable Flamini would have stayed and the next season we would still have had him and Cesc in midfield, with a pick of Eduardo, RVP and Ade up front, keeping that winning mentality firmly within the squad, which would surely have benefitted us even if those players (RVP aside) had still decided to leave later.
bc
June 29, 2012 at 12:53 pm
this is what i wanted at the end of the season
arshavin & vela out – podolski in
bendtner & chamakh out – giroud in
squillaci out – vertonghen in
djourou out – yanga-mbwia in
park out – belhanda in
denilson & eastmond out – mvila in
this would actually leave us with the right amount of homegrown/non-homegrown. plus u21s in brackets. at least 3 players for each position
szcesney, fabianski, mannone,
sagna, yanga-mbwia, (jenkinson)
koscielny, mertesacker, (bartley)
vermaelen, vertonghen, (miquel)
gibbs, santos, botelho,
mvila, song, (coquelin, frimpong)
arteta, diaby, ramsey, (wilshire)
rosicky, belhanda, lansbury,
walcott, (chamberlain, campbell)
rvp, giroud, (afobe)
podolski, gervinho (ryo)
luckystone
June 30, 2012 at 3:31 am
I really like what you want to the arsenal squad but without forget Marco Reus in attacking midfielder he is amazing,
UMOH EKWO
June 29, 2012 at 1:38 pm
Almunia tried his best for the club but his best was not good enough. We lost valuable points and matches due to his weaknesses. It was Wenger’s reluctance to buy a goal keeper that kept Almunia that long as No.1. Now that he is leaving, I wish him all the best. It is left for the Prof to get a good goal keeper now as we are also short in that department.
Iykeman
June 29, 2012 at 1:50 pm
He was good frm da begining,bt lost it later.wish him da best.
Dylan
June 29, 2012 at 2:47 pm
I hate it when supporters put messages up that beg AW for signings. As though he reads these sites. If AW decides he wants someone HE’LL DECIDE on the outcome. Us goin “Plz mr.weng sign this guy and we’re sure to win the title” means nothing. They’re pointless comments. Plus alot of the time they’re players that Journos have linked us to that AW has never even made contact with. Pointless commentary to made up links
francis
June 29, 2012 at 3:01 pm
That guy realy gave his best to arsenal to be honest. But i guess it’s time for him leave. Almunia good hunting to you
araba
June 29, 2012 at 3:20 pm
@Dylan,ur highly spot on!
Nura I Rimaye
June 29, 2012 at 6:50 pm
I manual best of luck in his next club, we (gunners) thanks for all your effort and support you gave to us(gunners)
Nura I Rimaye
June 29, 2012 at 6:51 pm
I wish manual the best of luck in his next club, we (gunners) thank you for all your effort and support you gave to us(gunners)
Abdirashid Hassan
June 29, 2012 at 7:54 pm
If wishes were horses, beggers would ride, by agooner. Hehehe.
The BearMan
June 29, 2012 at 10:08 pm
Almunia has much ability but was never able to cope with fans displeasure of his irregular performances.
Ray
June 29, 2012 at 10:30 pm
wishing him the best n shd rvp leave,aw pls re sign adebayor
jrj
June 30, 2012 at 2:42 am
feel sorry for him, he was a decent keeper but things just didn’t seem to go his way. although i agree about the eduardo thing in the 07 season – but for that we definately would’ve won the league
luckystone
June 30, 2012 at 3:21 am
actually really arsene need to sigh M’villa because he is great good prayer, also Marko Reus because after departure of fabregas theirs no other who can pray that role &this is the long problem in arsenal now, without forget Jan vertonghen &Yanga-Mbiwa in defense.
Phemkky
June 30, 2012 at 7:22 am
I wish alumi well in his future career and endeavour in life he has really tried for arsenal in the past.And for arsenal nw we only need m’villa in midfield 2 assist the back four and probably a defender if djorou leaves
Koalalover
July 2, 2012 at 9:00 pm
I wish Almunia the best for his future. He did have talent but sadly it al went downhill after the 07/08 season. He had to go and we have to get a goalkeeper to compete with szcesney but I don’t understand the reports linking us with Lloris. Why would he come to Arsenal to become a backup keeper.