At the end of September, on-loan Liverpool star Pepe Reina claimed that there is 'no reason to think' that he will return to LFC after his deal with Napoli ends, but it now appears that Spaniard has changed his mind.
When asked recently about his future, The fact that £15m-rated Reina told the The Independent:
"At the moment it's difficult to think about being a Liverpool player next year.
"They have a young goalkeeper in Simon Mignolet and the manager prefers him to me.
"There's no reason to think I'll be a Liverpool player from now on"
In an interview last night, Reina seemed resigned to the possibility of returning to Merseyside next summer. He told Italian newspaper La Gazetta Dello Sport:
"My future? As far as I know, I will return to Liverpool after my loan spell is over. Then, we'll see what happens. Now, I'm only thinking about doing well with Napoli"
With Barcelona stopper Victor Valdes leaving the club at the end of the season, Reina has his hopes set on a move to the Nou Camp, but reports this week suggest that Borussia Moenchengladbach 'keeper Marc-André ter Stegen is Barca's first choice replacement.
Chelsea keeper Thibaut Courtois is also on Barca's list, and Barca President Sandro Rosell recently declared his admiration for the Belgian stopper, publicly calling him a 'great goalkeeper'.
Reina certainly has a lot of support within the Barca camp, though, and over the last couple of weeks, several of the club's players have declared their public support. On Monday, Pedro Rodriguez told Esport3:
"He [Reina] knows the club and has been here in other years, so he would be a great goalkeeper for us. We would be delighted to welcome Pepe because we already know him. He would fit in very quickly."
Sergio Busquets also wants Reina at Barca. He told COPE Radio:
"He [Reina] is a great goalkeeper. If he comes it would be fine.”
Cesc Fabregas also supports the move. He told Radio Catalunya:
"Victor has been here for 10 years and none of us can imagine another goalkeeper in his place, but one of the things that Pepe can bring is that he knows all of us. He provides a very good atmosphere in the dressing room and is experienced."
I get the feeling that Reina is in for some serious heartbreak over the next year. He desperately wants the Barcelona move, but ter Stegen and Courtois are formidable competition.
There is speculation that Barca plan to sign two 'keepers - one young, and one older, experienced head - but if that transpires, I doubt Reina will want to spend the rest of his career nervously looking over his shoulder.
If he wanted to do that, he'd stay at Liverpool.
Jaimie Kanwar
NOTE: Please stick to the Comment Policy (Click to read)
When asked recently about his future, The fact that £15m-rated Reina told the The Independent:
"At the moment it's difficult to think about being a Liverpool player next year.
"They have a young goalkeeper in Simon Mignolet and the manager prefers him to me.
"There's no reason to think I'll be a Liverpool player from now on"
In an interview last night, Reina seemed resigned to the possibility of returning to Merseyside next summer. He told Italian newspaper La Gazetta Dello Sport:
"My future? As far as I know, I will return to Liverpool after my loan spell is over. Then, we'll see what happens. Now, I'm only thinking about doing well with Napoli"
With Barcelona stopper Victor Valdes leaving the club at the end of the season, Reina has his hopes set on a move to the Nou Camp, but reports this week suggest that Borussia Moenchengladbach 'keeper Marc-André ter Stegen is Barca's first choice replacement.
Chelsea keeper Thibaut Courtois is also on Barca's list, and Barca President Sandro Rosell recently declared his admiration for the Belgian stopper, publicly calling him a 'great goalkeeper'.
Reina certainly has a lot of support within the Barca camp, though, and over the last couple of weeks, several of the club's players have declared their public support. On Monday, Pedro Rodriguez told Esport3:
"He [Reina] knows the club and has been here in other years, so he would be a great goalkeeper for us. We would be delighted to welcome Pepe because we already know him. He would fit in very quickly."
Sergio Busquets also wants Reina at Barca. He told COPE Radio:
"He [Reina] is a great goalkeeper. If he comes it would be fine.”
Cesc Fabregas also supports the move. He told Radio Catalunya:
"Victor has been here for 10 years and none of us can imagine another goalkeeper in his place, but one of the things that Pepe can bring is that he knows all of us. He provides a very good atmosphere in the dressing room and is experienced."
I get the feeling that Reina is in for some serious heartbreak over the next year. He desperately wants the Barcelona move, but ter Stegen and Courtois are formidable competition.
There is speculation that Barca plan to sign two 'keepers - one young, and one older, experienced head - but if that transpires, I doubt Reina will want to spend the rest of his career nervously looking over his shoulder.
If he wanted to do that, he'd stay at Liverpool.
Jaimie Kanwar
NOTE: Please stick to the Comment Policy (Click to read)
he is a modern day legend like kut
ReplyDeleteyt,risse ,agger and hyypia
sturridge was so poor vs poland
ReplyDeletehis movement was off
hopefully it is just liverpool england syndrome
like mcmannaman and barnes had
He declares that now, coz a TV poll was conducted among Barca fans over the weekend, and Courtois, Ter Stegen, Petr Cech, and a number of other GK's polled ahead of him.
ReplyDeleteFor what its worth, Courtois won the poll followed by Ter Stegen.
reina's like an ex-girlfriend who regrets a break-up u made your bed talking u about barca like we were second best... sell him to man u for all i care
ReplyDeleteimo he wanted to lay poor so as to not risk injury he did nothing today that would call for a rash tackle or anything imo good call come back to liverpool danny and score us some goals
ReplyDeleteIf Courtois returns to Chelsea from his loan at Atletico Madrid then Reina could get his move to Spain. Doubt there is any chance of him coming back to Anfield and warming the bench at over 100k a week and rightly so.
ReplyDeleteI hope Liverpool FC continue their decisive action with the Reina situation and get rid at the end on his loan spell for a tidy sum. I'm disappointed with his comments over the last few weeks and months as I thought he would of shown LFC a bit more respect. The 'I'm happy to stay until Barca comes knocking' is very transparent and is fooling no one.
ReplyDeleteOk that interesting and explains a lot thank you. The Reina situation is a strange one as he's alienated himself...all by himself
ReplyDeleteDon't come back Reina, we're doing so well without u! Go to your Barca club as u wish...
ReplyDeleteStolen ...
ReplyDeletehttp://www.soccersouls.com/2013/10/15m-star-says-i-will-return-to-liverpool-fc/?
Give them some credit I suppose, they didn't copy it word for word.
Interesting theory! Going to a World Cup should give him a massive boost to go and score loads more goals for us this season.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad Mignolet has proved me wrong, I had my doubts at the beginning of the season but he has made a great start to his career, a bit like Pepe. Let's hope he sticks around for 4/5 years and wins many trophies at our great club.
ReplyDeleteAgreed, Pepe is probably the most consistent keeper we have had for over two decades. He was awesome for most of his LFC career. Shame his form went downhill over the last 18 months But LFC and FSG had to make a decision. Stick wth him or try something new. The advantage of the loan deal was that if Mignolet didnt do well, then we could bring Pepe back in next season. At the moment, it's looking like £8m well spent.
ReplyDeleteReina obviously thought he was untouchable at Liverpool. I honestly thought he would be LFC's next captain once Gerrard hangs up his boots.
ReplyDeletedid u not see any games over the last 3 seasons the man cost us big time what a relief to get a cat that actulay saves shots hope he never steps foot in anfield again
ReplyDeleteWhen I first at he'd Liverpool, I thought Reina was a great keeper. Over the last three years though he has been a liability with some bone headed moves. Mignolet wants it and has earned it. We would be lower half without him. Peep outlived his welcome for how he played and what he said in the press. Bye bye...............sell and get midfield help..........
ReplyDeleteI think Pepe is still a better keeper then Mignolet, yes shot stopping he might be edging a little ahead of Pepe, as Pepe is ageing, but reading the game going for crosses, and distributing the ball, he is nowhere near the quality Pepe posses. Mignolet has been fortunate that he has got a solid defence in front of him this year and trust me it makes a huge difference, otherwise I think he would have been found out. Either way as a liverpool fan I really hope they both do well, wherever they are.
ReplyDelete