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Almunia forced into retirement

Cape Town - Ex-Arsenal goalkeeper Manuel Almunia has been forced to retire from all forms of football after he was found to have a heart condition during a routine medical.

The 37-year-old Spaniard was set to join Italian club Cagliari earlier this month after having spent the past two years at Watford.

According to the Daily Star, Almunia has now abandoned his move to the Serie A side after medical examinations revealed a heart complication.

"I can confirm that Manuel Almunia failed a medical due to a heart condition", Alessandro Steri, the spokesman for Cagliari, said.

"Further tests done have revealed he is suffering from an apical hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM)."

The Professional Footballers' Association (PFA) was amongst the many who took to Twitter to express their sympathy for the glovesman, by tweeting, " Manuel Almunia has had to retire after being diagnosed with a heart condition. All at the PFA wish him well for the future."
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