News and Views

Reading Offload Mannone To Danish Club

31 January 2020
By Hob Nob Anyone?

Vito Mannone has travelled to Denmark to sign for his new side - Aalborg who play in the Danish Superliga. Mannone has found himself unwanted by the Royals and has not featured in Mark Bowen's plans since his return from the USA where he was on loan at Minnesota United in the MLS. Despite training with the club after coming back to the UK, Bowen made it clear he was looking to offload the player before his contract expires in the summer. Bowen chose to feature other goalkeepers as he rested players for our FA Cup ties and Mannone didn't even make the bench, making it clear his time was up in Berkshire.

It's been a tough time for Mannone, who was once the club's number one goalkeeper. He will be remembered as a reasonable goalkeeper but he failed to ever really look that spectacular, and failed to perform to a high enough standard as the club battled against relegation from the Championship. It was rumoured Mannone was a high wage earner so he will leave for a very small fee as Reading are keen to move the player on to a new club.

Mannone joined the Royals in the summer of 2017 for two million pounds from Sunderland. His price tag and a decent few years at Sunderland rose expectations. Sunderland had previously splashed out 1.5 million to sign him from Arsenal where he had played 15 times in the Premier League. Mannone made 47 Championship appearances for Reading and leaves with a decent CV as he looks to pick up his career in Denmark.

Meanwhile, striker Ben House, who made a ten minute debut for the Royals against Cardiff in the FA Cup, has returned to National League side Dagenham and Redbridge on loan. House came off the bench only to be subbed off again shortly after as Bowen was forced to reshuffle due to a red card. House will be looking to increase his goal tally after scoring twice for Dagenham and Redbridge in a 6-1 victory over Aldershot in November.

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