World Cup qual. - Almunia to apply for Brit passport

Eurosport - Thu, 26 Mar 09:59:00 2009

Arsenal goalkeeper Manuel Almunia is considering an application for a British passport and would not rule out playing for England one day.

FOOTBALL 2008-2009 Premier League Arsenal Manuel Almunia - 0

The Spaniard joined the Gunners from Celta Vigo during July 2004, and so under residency laws would soon be eligible to apply to become a naturalised British citizen.

Despite being a regular in the Champions League - and indeed playing in the 2006 final against Barcelona when Jens Lehmann was sent off - Almunia has, so far, not been called up to the Spain team.

Former England keepers Peter Shilton and Ray Clemence have voiced concerns about the possibility of Almunia, who turns 32 later this year, eventually replacing David James as the England number one.

While any application is not about to be processed imminently, there remains genuine possibility Almunia would be available for selection to England coach Fabio Capello - or indeed any of the other home nations - in time for the build-up to the 2010 World Cup.

"People are asking this question now because I have been in England for five years and am able to apply for a passport," Almunia said on Arsenal's official website.

"I am taking in the information, what I need to do for a passport.

"In think, for January next year, maybe I can have the permission.

"Maybe I will get a passport, then after, if I get the call-up [from England], I will think about this."

Almunia is one of the only first-team Arsenal regulars not away on international duty this week.

When the Gunners return from the break - with captain Cesc Fabregas expected to be fit following more than three months out with a knee problem - the squad will be preparing for the defining period of their campaign.

Villarreal await in the quarter-finals of the Champions League, while April also brings the small matter of an FA Cup semi-final against Chelsea at Wembley.

Almunia is looking forward to trip to his homeland - and feels the Gunners must look to silence what is set to be a fiesta at the compact Estadio El Madrigal if they are to progress to a potential clash with defending European champions Manchester United in the last four.

"For them, it is a big party to be in the quarter-finals of the Champions League," said Almunia, who watched from the bench as a dramatic late penalty save by Lehmann saw Arsenal through to the 2006 Champions League final at the expense of the Yellow Submarine.

"It is quite a small town, and also a small stadium, but the people there are brave and their supporters give everything."

Defender Gael Clichy is one of five Gunners in the France squad preparing for the World Cup qualifier double header against Lithuania.

The full-back, signed from Cannes in 2003, is a consistent performer in the Arsenal team, and has played down speculation linking him with a move away from the Emirates Stadium in the summer.

"AC Milan are an absolutely huge club. It is heartening to know that you are followed by such a team, but I am very happy at Arsenal," he said.

Sporting Life / Eurosport

Comment 34 - 53 of 53

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  1. Stop showing people all these racist comments,this is a­ free world and one can live and play anywhere he wants­ so long as he is there legally.After all Almunia is a­ very good goalkeeper, i don't see any English goal­ keeper now better than Almunia.Zidane was born in­ Algeria but he helped France win world cup and Euro­ cup, so you guys you should be encouraging Almunia­ instead.

    From Sammy, on Fri 27 Mar 12:30PM

  2. Almunia. . . . . . . . . . . . . GO HOME!!

    From Thomas, on Fri 27 Mar 12:03AM

  3. Pepe Reina and Ike Casillas are too good and too young­ for Almunia to ever see international duty. I don't­ like the idea of a 32 year old Spaniard repesenting­ England just because he's been in the EPL for 5­ years and can't make his own national side. He­ would never be playing for his country, let a English­ keeper guide England.

    From NewarkYMCA, on Thu 26 Mar 8:49PM

  4. What cateogory does Almunia want to play in, the­ current squad or the over age squad. Dumb Arsenal­ player

    From Godwin, on Thu 26 Mar 2:32PM

  5. Whats so great about british passport, its just tax,­ tax and more tax. Almunia or what ever your name is you­ should be ashamed of yourself

    From Godwin, on Thu 26 Mar 2:30PM

  6. Obviously the racist t++t heads are at home from early­ learning centre today Can i point out also if we had a­ Premier league in uk with only BRITISH PLAYERS THERE­ WOULD ONLY BE ABOUT 6 CLUBS !!!!!!!!!!!
    Please stop­ your racist undertones our team is made up from good­ quality young european and african players who are­ destined for great things
    Except Adeybayour who i hope­ we sell to some one with no hope soon perhaps Grimsby

    From pnikev2000, on Thu 26 Mar 1:34PM

  7. Almunia, dont do that. Even if you were chosen by­ Capello, England has never won anything except its­ world cup in 66 and in not a very fair way.

    From alf2807, on Thu 26 Mar 12:05PM

  8. should this not apply to managers as well

    From bubbles, on Thu 26 Mar 11:59AM

  9. Wanger L pish off you little slooot

    From FoeyP, on Thu 26 Mar 11:00AM

  10. how can he be english with a head like that? Looks like­ a @#$%

    From FoeyP, on Thu 26 Mar 10:59AM

  11. He is @#$% and not english full stop

    From garylocker, on Thu 26 Mar 10:43AM

  12. Ps sorry about poor spelling i was in a rush !!

    From gunnerman&boy, on Thu 26 Mar 10:07AM

  13. REF POST 35 You need to study facts,the premiership is­ NOT and english league for english players its a world­ class league for all players like spain germany­ brazil.obvioslly you have some form of racist nature or­ you would not mention the fact that Asenal have a­ number of players from africa france spain etc However­ numb nuts thay also have 21 players on there books who­ are home grown including one of the brightest stars of­ the current time one Theo Walcott along side Aron­ Ramsey and Jack wilshire

    From gunnerman&boy, on Thu 26 Mar 10:06AM

  14. my opinion on this matter is that if a player is born­ in a coutry, hovever he has foreign parents, he can­ choose to play for his country of birth or his­ parents' country. as for players being born in­ other countries, and spending most of their lives­ there, then move to another country, spend 5 years­ there, get citizenship, and then represent that­ country, i'm not against the idea, i just don't­ support it.

    From aleksicn93, on Thu 26 Mar 6:45AM

  15. #36 great!!!

    From Cesc Lover, on Thu 26 Mar 4:18AM

  16. Sriset, I think you will find Luke was kidding mate.

    From Jamie, on Thu 26 Mar 1:43AM

  17. @ luke.elliff : you dumb ! Ronaldo has been playing for­ the Portugal national team that means he can't play­ for other national team !

    From Sri, on Thu 26 Mar 1:35AM

  18. its pretty sad to think spain rate victor valdez higher­ then almunia...

    From justin, on Thu 26 Mar 12:15AM

  19. im sorry but in england there are many talented players­ nobody needs almunia.FA should find youngsters and give­ them training.i hope he will get the passport at least­ arsenal will have second english player:):):):):)

    From ulas, on Thu 26 Mar 12:02AM

  20. to scotty tou dumb @&*£
    Eduardo da Silva =­­ Brasilian-born playing for Croatia true
    Colin­ Kazim-Richards­ = English-born Turkish national plays­ for­ Fenerbahçe he was born in england but raised in­ turkey
    Didier Drogba, Ivorian = French­ National plays ­ for his own country
    Patrice Evra, Senegal = French­ National, plays­ for France born in senegal raised in­ france
    Marcos Senna = Brasilian-born playing for­ Spain­ raised in spain
    Lukas Podolski, Polish = German­ National plays­ for Germany polish mum. he was born in­ germany
    Daniel Majstorović = Serbian-born­­ playing for Sweden true
    Zlatan Ibrahimović =­­ Bosnian-born playing for Sweden his parents were­ bosnian he was born and raised their some people move­ to the countrys they were raised in but none of these­ really are valid.

    we could go on. and­ all over the­ place. This is what makes football great!

    From aodhan, on Wed 25 Mar 10:27PM
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