Espanyol release Manninger

Manninger "joined" Espanyol in July

Espanyol have released goalkeeper Alex Manninger just weeks after the Austrian international joined them from Arsenal.

Doubts exist over whether Manninger's £960,000 transfer from Arsenal had been fully completed.

Manninger joins Espanyol

"I came here and signed with the intention of staying. I don't understand anything," Manninger told the Marca newspaper.

Marca said the Barcelona-based club had placed bank guarantees with the Spanish soccer federation about the transfer.

But they apparently removed the guarantees three weeks later after Arsenal failed to send documentation confirming Manninger's transfer.

Now Espanyol seem to have opted out of the signing after receiving a request from the Premiership club for the guarantees.

Manninger left Barcelona on Thursday to fly back to London, according to reports.

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