Former Real Madrid youth keeper Aleix Manzano has revealed that he has spent this week on trial with the Blues but was unsuccessful in his attempt to win a contract at Portman Road.

The 21-year-old Spaniard spent six seasons with the La Liga giants and was called into Catalan representative squads at U12 and U14 levels.

He tweeted: “Thank you for this opportunity. I've done my best, but it's time to keep working hard! Good luck.”

Manzano added that boss Paul Jewell felt he wasn't tall enough: “The manager decided not to contract me because of my height, 1.85m (about 6ft 1in). [Too small a] goalkeeper for him.”

Photo: Action Images

CanadianBlue added 16:17 - Sep 7 Seriously? A 6"1 'keeper is too small? I don't think lobbed shots should be PJ's concern right now!
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itfc1981 added 16:21 - Sep 7 I should think he was just letting down gently.
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PhilTWTD added 16:24 - Sep 7 These days managers seem to want keepers who are 6ft 3in tall and above.
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Strider added 16:28 - Sep 7 Not surprising that they want tall guys - but wasn't Paul Cooper shorter than that?
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daniel2302 added 16:28 - Sep 7 Why take a goalkeeper on trail if you don't want that goalkeepers height? surely you'd research his height first before taking him on trail? I'd take anything as second choice. ALB is not good enough.
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Behind_Enemy_Lines added 16:30 - Sep 7 Must mean that PJ would never entertain Iker casillas !!!
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BluedanW added 16:33 - Sep 7 Paul Cooper was 5ft 10 and he done ok as far as i remember. Saving 8 out of 10 penalties in one season!
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daniel2302 added 16:35 - Sep 7 jewell out.
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casanovacrow added 16:35 - Sep 7 So Paul would rather ALB than Shay Given (6')? *rolls eyes*
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dirtyboy added 16:40 - Sep 7 Lawrie Sivell was decent, and he's probably under 5'8" lol!
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ThatMuhrenCross added 16:41 - Sep 7 6'1"?? He's a full 3 inches taller than Real Madrid's current #1, Iker Casillas. I suppose he wouldn't be offered a contract by Ipswich either, then?!
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WJG_87 added 16:41 - Sep 7 Not sure 'keeper is the position I'd choose to strengthen at the minute, but a bizarre reason for not taking the guy!
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pazelle added 17:32 - Sep 7 What, no photo?
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Lombokblue added 17:38 - Sep 7 Laurie Sivell has said that Bill McGarry used to tell to him hang from the crossbar in training to make him taller. We used to develop players in those days.
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WarkOn added 18:12 - Sep 7 LombokBlue Shilton did a similar thing - hang from the banisters at home with weights round his ankles! Didn't 't too too bad for himself, as I recall, but hopeless as saving pens, unlike the great P Cooper...
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Guthrum added 20:20 - Sep 7 Might be a case of "if he's good enough, he's tall enough", but wasn't, in this case, quite good enough to compensate for his lack of height.
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Garv added 20:50 - Sep 7 Really? It took 17 comments for someone to say something sensible? Wow.
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MattinLondon added 21:20 - Sep 7 @Garv To be fair, itfc1981 said roughly the same as Guthrum a couple of posts in.
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MattinLondon added 21:22 - Sep 7 But I think its good that we are looking wider for new players
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raycrawfordswig added 22:08 - Sep 7 Jewell not tall enough to be a manager
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Andy32Cracknell added 08:30 - Sep 8 ipswich town 3-2 man utd (man of the match) CLIVE BAKER our 5ft nothin goalkeeper lol
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Peanutblue1980 added 21:32 - Sep 10 Clive Baker bring him back lol genius
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