Former Arsenal keeper Vito Mannone tips Emi Martinez’s Aston Villa to win the Premier League | OneFootball

Former Italy under-21 and current Lille goalkeeper Vito Mannone gave an interview about his career, relationship with other players and his current experience in France for the first time in many years.

Speaking in an exclusive interview with Gianluca Di Marzio, Vito Mannone talked about his time at Premier League side Arsenal and how he with Juventus goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny grew up together in the game. He also speaks about Emiliano Martinez and applauds him for becoming a world champion from being a 4th-choice goalkeeper for the Gunners.

He said: “Wojciech and I grew up together. At the time he was young, now he is someone else type of goalkeeper, he grew in many ways. Besides him, there was also Lukasz Fabianki: we were three goalkeepers with quality and young people. All three of us wanted to play and arrive… and in the end we all did our careers. For those who don’t know, before I left, I was the second goalkeeper behind Szczesny and in front of Fabianski. It was nice because it wasn’t easy at that moment because when one plays the other two are frustrated. And then there was also Emiliano Martinez. Hats off to Emi who today can make Aston Villa win the Premier League, they are a good team and play very well.”

Mannone delved a bit into his former teammate Wojciech Szczesny’s personality and consistent steps made him grow to the level he is at now. He said: “I’m not surprised to find him at these levels: he’s never lacked personality and he’s always been a little crazy (laughs). He had and has a personality, that demonstrated being a great goalkeeper. He also made his steps and had to wait and grow little by little.”

Vito Mannone has recorded 82 Premier League appearances, 27 in Ligue 1, 80 in the Championship and 34 in the MLS. Surprisingly, being an Italy under-21 player, he hasn’t played for any Italian club during his career. The 35-year-old talked about his favourite club Milan but thanked Arsenal for the faith they put in him.

He remarked: “Maybe because no one believed in me. I was very young when I left no one believed in me at that moment. Instead Arsenal did… and between staying among the youth and going to the first team at Arsenal I decided to accept the court of the Gunners (in 2005). you meet someone who believes in you…you have to try to keep going until your time comes and silences them in a certain way. After that, I did many good things in my career. The call from Italy never came and yes a I’m kinda sorry. I am a Milan fan and grew up with the myth of Dida. My idol was Buffon so in the 2003 Juve-Milan Champions League final I had my two idols on one side and on the other. Fantastic“

Trambak Bhattacherjee | GIFN