Fabio Capello is ready to spark a nationalistic furore by selecting Manuel Almunia this summer if the Arsenal goalkeeper applies for a British passport.
After five years of residence in London, Almunia, who has never represented Spain at international level, is eligible for British nationality in July and the Independent claims that Capello is ready to pick the potentially-soon-to-be-ex-Spaniard if Almunia decides to turn his back on his country of birth.
'The situation from the Capello camp is very clear: he will consider picking Almunia if the Arsenal goalkeeper gets a British passport. No ifs, no buts, the mood among Capello and his staff is that once Almunia has British nationality it would be discriminatory not to pick him. The ball is in the court of the man from Pamplona,' the newspaper discloses.
'If Almunia is willing to get the passport then Capello will back him over all the inevitable voices of protest, even if they come from within the Football Association. Like Eduardo da Silva (once Brazilian, now Croatian) and Deco (once Brazilian, now Portuguese) there would be nothing in the rules stopping Almunia from playing for England.'
Capello is not believed to have made any sort of assurances to Almunia, but the expectation is that if the Italian were to pick the Arsenal keeper then he would most probably be installed as England's number one ahead of David James.
The Daily Mail is going to go mental.
Your Comments
frank_cfc
"the only true english man or should i say british died 1500 years ago when the saxsons invaded.if he want to play for england then let him."
drawson
"Firstly the reason he hasnt played for Spain is not because he is not good enough more the fact that he has had brilliant goalkeepers like Canizares (Valencia) Casillas (R Madrid) and now Jose Reina (Liverpool) in front of him, Compared to Englands Current keepers he deserves to be given a shot.
Almunia - PLYD - 32, Conceeded - 26, Clean Sheets 14
Robinson - PLYD - 32, Conceeded - 53, Clean sheets - 7
Hart - PLYD - 23, Conceeded - 31, Clean Sheets - 6
James - PLYD - 35, Conceeded - 53, Clean Sheets - 8
Carson - PLYD - 35, Conceeded - 64, Clean Sheets - 7
Green - PLYD - 35, Conceeded - 37, Clean Sheets - 10
Kirkland - PLYD - 31, Conceeded - 36, Clean Sheets - 11
Stats Speak for themselves
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dankent
"In all fairness, If he turned round and said, mama I now have an english passport, I am going to join the british army, everyone would be say well done lad.
This all just shows how poor english talent is if we cant even select a decent enough keeper. "
Stokie_Rich
"ive said this on another post and i will say it again, Almunia only wants to play international football. Any comparisons to Hargreaves, Barnes etc are complete rubbish, Hargreaves has British parents, Barnes grew up in England. If Spain wanted Almunia he would not hesitate to play for them, he sees England as an easy option. I have no problem with someone born abroad who saw themselves as an Englishman first and foremost and then a footballer but Almunia doesnt."
Ezy_Rider
"diera, that's the most ridiculous argument I've heard in my life"
diera
"It is great how this discussion has gone in that sense.. People have criticized the idea of nationality by acceptance and nationality by birth, yet its amazing how the favorite English food is curry.. not because it originated here, but because it fits well with its taste and peoples needs and diets!
Bravo so called Englishmen, I hope you guys aren't hypocrites."
bigredfox
"It should have been Guadeloupe that won the world cup in 98!"
wood56
"I was unaware it is possible to get an English passport. If he gets a British passport doesn't that make him eligible for all the home nations?"
GolferStu
"It's started already.......http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/sport/football/article2405789.ece
"
doobs
"Ezy_Rider, that's kind of what i'm saying, I don't think the rules are written to cover this sort of thing. In the past it's just been down to where you, or your parents, or your grandparents are born (except with Tony Cascarino, but that was alright cos no-one else wanted him anyway!) I thought the rules said you could qualify by birth, or through parentage back to your grandparents and no further, that's all... Does anyone know whether these rules are actually written down anywhere?"
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