Roy Hodgson reveals Crystal Palace goalkeeper Vicente Guaita has REFUSED to play for the club – with the 36-year-old ‘disenchanted’ after losing his No 1 spot to Sam Johnstone
- Vicente Guaita joined Crystal Palace from LaLiga side Getafe on a free in 2018
- The 36-year-old had always been first choice but lost his place to Sam Johnstone
- Guaita refused to play in Palace’s pre-season games to force through a transfer
Roy Hodgson has revealed that goalkeeper Vicente Guaita has grown ‘disenchanted’ with life at the club and refused to play in the Eagles’ pre-season fixtures ahead of the new campaign.
The Spaniard joined the club in 2018 and enjoyed the position as No 1 before being unseated by Sam Johnstone at the end of last season once Hodgson replaced Patrick Vieira as manager.
As a result, the 36-year-old, who has a year remaining on his contract at Selhurst Park, has stated his desire to depart this summer and is angling for a return to LaLiga side Getafe.
‘He’s [Johnstone] the only one at the moment because Guaita is disenchanted with the club,’ Hodgson told Scandinavian broadcaster Viaplay. ‘He’s made it clear to the club that really he would like to move on.
‘He’s been refusing to play in our games so far but the complication is that he has a year’s contract so it’s up to the club to decide really. Not him.
Vicente Guaita has made over 150 appearances for Palace since arriving from Getafe in 2018
Roy Hodgson’s decision to install Sam Johnstone as the No 1 has left Guaita ‘disenchanted’
Sam Johnstone started each of Crystal Palace’s nine games at the end of the last campaign
‘But the current situation is that he’s made it clear to everybody that he doesn’t want to be here and compete with Sam Johnstone. So he is the No 1 and Remi Matthews is the No 2.’
Guaita has made more than 150 appearances for Palace since arriving from the Spanish capital and signed a one year extension with the London club in January.
Hodgson, who committed his future to the club for another 12 months this summer, alluded to disharmony caused by the Spanish stopper’s behavior.
However, he insisted that it will be up to the club to decided whether or not to sanction a transfer before the deadline closes.
‘It’s up to the club now,’ he added. ‘The fact is that any player can do that, it’s not difficult and I’m certain that there are many clubs around the world with players who would rather leave than stay.
‘When you sign a contract basically you commit yourself to what’s needed at that club. And the classic thing that’s needed from a player who signs a contract at a football club is to play football.
‘So when you no longer want to play football for that cub it does cause enormous amount of friction and it will be interesting now to see how the situation resolves itself.
‘I can’t physically make Guaita play, but at the same time it’s not certain that his refusal to play means they’ll have to let him go.’
