Giant Man City keeper set for final farewell

Wembley date may be Pantilimon’s City swansong, says Stuart Brennan

Manchester City second goalkeeper

Costel Pantilimon is ready to quit City after playing in the FA Cup final on Saturday.

The 6ft, 8ins keeper has got the nod ahead of Joe Hart for the Wembley clash with Wigan, but admits he is preparing to move on in the summer to get the first-team football needed to establish himself as Romania’s number one.

City boss Roberto Mancini has stuck by Pantilimon in every round of the FA Cup so far, and has confirmed that he will continue in the final.

But Pantilimon will revert to second choice next season, if he is still with City, with only domestic cup games to keep him happy.

That means he will sit down with his agent and City officials, at the end of the season to thrash out his future.

He has already been linked with Arsenal, as Arsene Wenger is a known admirer, but it does seem that Saturday’s final will be a swansong for a man who has racked up 11 cup appearances in two seasons at City – but has yet to play in the league.

Pantilimon said: “The technical staff and everyone knows that after the season is finished, I want to leave, as I want to play more. But that discussion will come after the season.

“I don’t know if Saturday will be my last game for the club, it depends on what happens. I am only sure that I want to play – that is what is best for me. The manager of the national team tells me every time I speak to him ‘Please try to play more’, so it is also important for my country, as well as for my career. I am young, not 35 or something, waiting to finish my career.

“I am happy I am here, but it’s normal that I want to play. I am only young and I want to play more.”

When it was suggested that a loan deal might be a compromise, Pantilimon said: “We will wait to see what happens after the season. It is normal that we will discuss this, and it is not just about my opinion – there is also the manager’s opinion.

“My agent will discuss it with the manager and we will see what happens.”

But the big man from Bacau in Romania says he has no regrets about making the £3m move from Timisoara after initially joining the Blues on loan in the summer of 2011.

“You get one chance,” he said. “When the manager says he needs you, and a good club like Manchester City wants you, you have to take the chance.

“You work hard to try to play more, but I knew Joe is a very good keeper, the England number one. I took the risk because it was an opportunity to be at a top club.

“For a keeper it is difficult. Other players get to play for a few minutes, or in other positions, but it is not like that for a keeper.

“I still think City was a good choice by me. I have been waiting for my chance, and now I am playing in the FA Cup final.”

Pantilimon was disappointed to be left out of last season’s Carling Cup semi-final clashes against Liverpool after playing in the earlier rounds, with Hart stepping in.

But this season Mancini has stood by him all the way to the final – and so has Hart, who has expressed his support for his team-mate, even though it will cost him a place in English football’s historic showpiece game.

Pantilimon said: “I think Joe is OK about it. He is a good colleague and a friend, and I know he understands the position. He plays in all the games, and I waited for my chance in the cup.”