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Almunia cools England talk

13 Jan 2008 - 12:08:45

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Arsenal goalkeeper Manuel Almunia has denied reports from Italy that he is desperate to force his way into the England set-up in the near future.

The 30-year-old Spaniard will qualify for a British passport later this year and had been quoted as saying that he was keen to secure a call-up from new national team manager Fabio Capello.

However, Almunia told AS: "They've said that I have publicly commented that I was going to start the process of becoming an England national.

"I never said anything about that and neither have I announced anything to the Italian media.

"The media talk about me being called up a lot because England didn't reach the European Championships, but I haven't heard anything.

"I would prefer to hear the Spanish anthem than the England one, but it's also true that the time of patriotism and really feeling a national anthem has somewhat gone out of fashion.

"It matters more what you owe a country or the people of that country.

"I owe everything to Spain on a personal level, but professionally I can't put a price on what has happened to me in England."