BBC Sport Wales pundit Daniel Gabbidon appears to be baffled by West Ham’s swoop to sign goalkeeper Roberto after it was confirmed that terms were agreed with the Spaniard on Friday.
The Hammers have announced via their official website that 6ft 4 [transfermarkt] colossus Roberto, 33, will join them on a two-year contract on July 1, once his deal with La Liga club Espanyol expires.
Roberto arrives at the London Stadium not long after it was confirmed that Adrian would be leaving, so it seems as though Manuel Pellegrini has found a like-for-like replacement for the club’s previous second-choice goalkeeper.
However Gabbidon believes that a younger shot-stopper with some potential would have been a better addition to the squad than 33-year-old Robero.
Speaking via his personal Twitter account on Friday, the ex-West Ham defender said: “Why not bring in a young high potential Goalkeeper to supplement the experienced [Lukasz] Fabianski?”
OPINION
Roberto is a very experienced goalkeeper who should do well enough for West Ham if he is ever called upon to replace Fabianski. The former Atletico Madrid and Magala ‘keeper is bound to be used in cup competition and to replace the Poland international in the starting line-up if he is ever suspended or injured. However like Gabbidon says, would it not be better to find a younger back-up? Fabianski is 34-years-old and while he was superb this season, he is not going to be around forever. There are bound to be young goalkeepers out there who are willing to learn from the ex-Arsenal shot-stopper and play a bit-part role in the next two or three seasons when they make just 10 or so appearances. Roberto will come in for West Ham, play several times, then leave at the end of his contract. West Ham have some kind of obsession about signing older players and while sometimes that pays off, it really doesn’t make a lot of sense in this case.