adminLONDON. – Dumped Pepe Reina has written an emotional letter to Liverpool fans spelling out his pain at being forced out of the English Premiership soccer club. Spanish keeper Reina was last week sent on a season-long loan to Napoli of the Italian Serie A. And in a warts-and-all note to supporters published on his website, Reina says:
- boss Brendan Rodgers agreed to the deal . . . WITHOUT even telling him
- he feels robbed of the chance to say a proper goodbye to Liverpool fans
- he DID have his head turned by rumours about a Barcelona return
- but he still wanted a new contract when Barca went cold on a deal
Reina was linked with a Nou Camp return when Victor Valdes announced he was quitting Catalonia.
Liverpool signed Simon Mignolet as a replacement but when Valdes performed a U-turn, Reina was caught in transfer limbo.
Rodgers last week revealed how he could not keep both stoppers happy at the club and shipped Reina off to Italy.
But incredibly, loyal Reina claims he was not consulted about his move to Serie A.
He said: “If I have one regret, it is the way that I am leaving.
“It is only natural that I would be disappointed that the Liverpool management agreed to loan me to Napoli without telling me first, I thought that I deserved better than that even though I understand that difficult decisions have to be taken in football.
“A lot has been made about me informing the club that if an offer came in from Barcelona that I would have liked them to consider it.
“But I had also spoken to the club about the possibility of extending my contract if the offer was not made.
“I told the manager that I wanted to play for Liverpool and that Barcelona would only become an option for me if the opportunity arrived, like the rumours said it would, as it would be a chance for me to go back home.
“When it didn’t come I was happy to fight for my place so I was surprised that Liverpool decided it was in the club’s interests to send me to Napoli instead.”
Reina, who spent eight years on Merseyside, paid a moving tribute to the Anfield fans.
He added: “I now understand how supporters can lift a team and inspire them to do special things. I appreciate that there is something unique about Anfield and the atmosphere it creates. I believe that anything is possible no matter what the situation is because at Liverpool there is no such thing as a lost cause. – The Sun.
Online Reporter