Manninger joins Torino

Manninger has returned to Italy

Former Arsenal goalkeeper Alex Manninger has joined Italian Serie A strugglers Torino.

Second from bottom of Serie A, Torino have given Manninger a six-month contract with the option to make the deal permanent should he impress.

The 25-year-old Austrian international returns to Italy after a stint at Fiorentina last season before the club's bankruptcy.

He joined Spanish club Espanyol last summer but failed to win a regular first-team place and was released after just one month.

Espanyol release Manninger

Manninger was signed by Arsenal from Cazino Salzburg in 1997.

He spent three seasons as understudy to David Seaman, but despite making 64 first-team appearances, Manninger was unable to displace the England goalkeeper and was released at the end of the 1999/2000 season.