Arsenal & AC Milan to battle for CSKA Moscow star
11:43 February, 19, 2007
Igor Akinfeev is pleased with the interest being shown in him by the Gunners



The 20-year-old goalkeeper is firmly established as the number one at CSKA and has also made a number of appearances for the Russian national side.

With both Arsenal and AC Milan on the lookout for a new custodian this summer, Akinfeev is a wanted man.

"I am delighted that a club of such calibre (as Arsenal) are interested in me," the player has been quoted as saying.

"You can't have too many chances like that in your career.

"Of course, if they make an offer, I'll take it seriously and will think about it."


It seems that he is very unusual and one of those who we will heard about :

Igor Akinfeev (Russian: Игорь Акинфеев) (born on April 8, 1986 in Vidnoye) is a Russian football (soccer) goalkeeper currently playing for CSKA Moscow.

He broke into the CSKA starting lineup at the age of 17, and has been the No 1 at the club ever since, gathering various honors including [font="Arial"]a UEFA Cup and Two National Championships. He has been tipped to become one of the best goalkeepers in the near future.

Comparisons with the great Russian goalkeeper of the past Lev Yashin have been mooted after Akinfeev recently won the ‘Zvezda’ trophy that is awarded to the best football player in the area that was the former Soviet Union.

In his second Champions League campaign he had a dry spell of 362 minutes prior to conceding a goal on Matchday 5 against FC Porto.







i prefer Dida or buffon certainly but he is very Delicious for future




i want him badly

He's a very good keeper. But as Lehmann is out of Arsenal in the end of the season... he's gonna be gunner next season I guess.

Well he'd be my second choice after Buffon. I've seen a number of games of him and he was impressive in all of them.

I haven's seen Amelia that much but in the games he played against Milan he didn't amaze me.

Arsenal are not going to spend more than 5m for him and CSKA won't let him go for so little since he's a really hot property.

Arsenal are interested in signing the english goalkeeper Scott Carson currently on loan from Liverpool at Charlton. He has been getting rave reviews in a struggling side, thats the whisper from my gooner friend anyway.

it seems that Now Arsenal and Milan or any other team have equal chance to catch him

Hmmm...this is a very typical Wenger move, always on the lookout for cheap, potential stars...
Still I was hoping Almunia would stick with the club, he's getting better and better, but as he ain't to young either, this could be good.

As for Milan, what's wrong with Dida?

His contract expires this summer and he hasn't yet renewed... he may still be our keeper next season though.

Almunia is not reliable, at least not for a team like Arsenal who are supposed to be building a great side...

i think it depends on how this season ends up whether or not dida stays. he is still one of the best keepers in the world, but i think even he realizes that his career is coming to an end.

what do you mean by that??

I think warchant means that Dida wants to win something BIG before he retires.
Its still unsure wether Milan will get the 4th place in Seria A they need, and I'm VERY sure Milan won't win Serie A next year either.

And by the way, what do you mean with Almunia not being reliable?
He's had some great performances this season, and is getting better.

i think it will simply come down to if we qualify for the CL. If we don't I think he's gone.

Hmmm....Almunia almost 31, Akinfeev about 21.... I think with 31 you can't improve much more, not even as a goalie. About Arsenal, I've recently heard that they're also interested in Roman Weidenfeller from Dortmund as Lehmanns successor. Btw, Lehmann might not leave, he's just p!ssed because Wenger only offered him a contract for one more year (like every other 30+ player)

He usually does not avoid making mistakes. And he may have a good game and then one not just as good... He's not a great keeper in my view and a great keeper is essential!

this would be great, I've seen him a lot playing, he is just class. Really would be awesome to get him.

Definitely. He is a huge talent and can potentially be the best. If we have an opportunity to sign him now ,before he moves to big club, we better take it.

You know, 31 isn't THAT big age for a keeper.
He can keep on for four more years, but as I doubt Lehmann will be at The Emirates in August, we could need a good 2nd keeper, or 1st if Almunia falls back to his early "slippery" form.

I still wish Lehmann would stay, though.

for next season if we get buffon or have Dida to stay he will be a very secure heir for them , he will play 2 or 3 years as second and then for 10 years he will have ability to defend ours in first rate

this guy is great, especially in football manager. hehe

we really need a great goalkeeper if Dida leaves. Otherwise, DIDA will be my 1st choice.
When he's in the middle of posts I dont care about the opposition

More info: http://www.goal.com/en/articolo.aspx?contenutoid=240131