Kinnear Hits Back At Trapattoni Over Given Claims

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EC: Shay Given of Ireland after 0-1 against Germany (AFP)

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Joe Kinnear is not happy with Giovanni Trapattoni. The Italian boss of the Republic of Ireland has angered Kinnear, himself an Irishman, with comments regarding Shay Given.

According to Trapattoni, Newcastle and Republic goalkeeper Given is  attracting interest from several Serie A clubs who are keen to sign the player when the transfer window re-opens in January.

Trapattoni made the comments at a press conference prior to the Republic's 3-2 friendly defeat by Poland in Dublin on Wednesday night.

"I know Shay’s personality here in training, he commands the defence and that is very important. When Italian managers ask me about Shay I say yes, he is a goalkeeper good enough for a strong team in Italy,"  Trapattoni said, with Given sitting alongside him.

"I speak with two or three big managers, they are my friends. When they ask me, I tell them he can play for you. Italian teams spend money, money, money for famous strikers and few for goalkeepers. For me, a goalkeeper is important like a striker.

"I think he is a little bit like Buffon. It’s not nice to make comparisons, but the personality and quality is a little the same."

And Kinnear is not happy about the unsettling effect such talk might have had on his player.

"I think it’s disrespectful," said the Toon boss. "He [Given] will be here for three years.

"What on earth he was doing saying that I don’t know.

“Maybe he wanted to get on the right side of Shay."

Given has won 91 caps for the Republic of Ireland and is his country's  most capped goalkeeper. He has also been linked with a move to Tottenham Hotspur in January, following Harry Redknapp's move to White Hart Lane as manager.

Zack Wilson, Goal.com