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Pepe Reina: Liverpool forced me out

Napoli’s new No 1 has written an open letter to Liverpool fans.

PEPE REINA HAS claimed that he was forced out of Liverpool after agreeing to join Napoli on a season-long loan.

With Brendan Rodgers electing to make new signing Simon Mignolet his first-choice goalkeeper ahead of the coming campaign, the Spaniard signed a temporary deal with the Serie A club this month.

Reina had been widely expected to return to Barcelona ahead of the transfer window opening, but a proposed switch failed to materialise after Victor Valdes opted to see out the final year of his contract at Camp Nou.

And, though Reina has admitted that he would have liked to move to the Catalan club, he insists he was happy to remain at Anfield when that offer did not arrive.

“If I have one regret, it is the way that I am leaving,” he wrote in an open letter to Liverpool’s supporters. “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.”

The 30-year-old also had kind words for the Merseyside club’s loyal support, insisting they are “unique” in world football. (Playing for Liverpool) has given me an understanding of what it is like to play for the most wonderful English club,” he added.

“I may not have won as many trophies and medals as I would have liked since joining in 2005 but the experiences I have been a part of are as important as any silverware.

“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.”

Reina has made 394 appearances for Liverpool since his arrival from Villarreal in 2005, keeping 176 clean sheets in that time.

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19 Comments
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    Mute Barry Aston
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    Jul 29th 2013, 11:53 AM

    I’m a Reina fan. He done fantasitc things and showed the passion needed to get fans excited. he will be missed. This letter though. Not too conviced. End of last season, he tells Rogers if Barca want hiom, he would like to make it happen. The option does not happen but Rogers makes moves to ensure a solid keeper will be in the club by purchasing Minolet. Reina cannot expect no response from a manager for such a critical role on a pitch. if we lost him to Barca and had no good cover, Rogers head would be called for. Reina has to understand he was the maker of his move. He was not pushed for no reason.

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    Mute barrywhite
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    Jul 29th 2013, 12:39 PM

    I’m sure he understands that Barry but he is reported in saying that the loan deal was done behind his back

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    Mute Barry Aston
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    Jul 29th 2013, 1:09 PM

    At 4 million a year, the loan move was understandable. Also, Pepe will need first team football and in a league that is a level below the PL. He will do well in Italy with a manager that has seen his best ability already &will plai in the CL ahead of a world cup year. Okay, if the move was done behind his back, it is a bit rough but he has landed not too badly.

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    Mute Alan Murphy
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    Jul 30th 2013, 1:25 AM

    The whole world and his dog knew about this deal weeks ago, not sure why he didn’t. £110,000 a week is a bit much for a benchwarmer. Sad to see him go though, hope he wins the scudetto with rafa and gets his barca move.

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    Mute Peter Mc
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    Jul 29th 2013, 1:18 PM

    Copyright Ben Hart on twitter
    @IHMU4EVA: Just told the missus that I want to shag the next door neighbour. But if she says no then I want our relationship to stay intact. #Reina

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    Mute Barry Aston
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    Jul 29th 2013, 4:34 PM

    Brilliant!

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    Mute Gavin Doyle
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    Jul 29th 2013, 12:26 PM

    Reina was trying to manufacture a move to Barcelona from the start of last season it didn’t work out and back fired on him. Rodgers done the right thing brought in a brilliant keeper don’t know if he will be as good as reina but definitely a class keeper and probably on half the amount reina was getting .So he replaced a keeper looking for a move back to his boyhood club and replaced reduced his wages by half and brought in a decent keeper good work

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    Mute @Aoifs2707
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    Jul 29th 2013, 11:46 AM

    As a Liverpool fan I am gutted he is leaving. A legend of a player.

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    Mute mick conlon
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    Jul 29th 2013, 11:43 AM

    Reina was a great keeper for Pool. Has been error prone for past 2 seasons and a new beginning at Napoli might get him back to his best. Hopefully then he will get his move back to Barca. He will always be remembered as a great Liverpool player thou and a great person too, unlike Mr Suarez!

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    Mute Leo O'Connell
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    Jul 29th 2013, 12:09 PM

    Mingolet is better,but reina is right to leave, I think he’s too good of a player to be sitting on the bench

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    Mute Noel Beirne
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    Jul 29th 2013, 12:37 PM

    Im sick of Rodgers,just sick of him. He talks so much bull,its unreal and this episode is just the latest. All managers have to engage in guff sometimes,par for the course, but this man never ever stops. He had the chance to make himself look/sound like a real manager after buying Mingolet,a top young keeper imo, and telling Reina your gonna have to fight for your place but no he starts on about how they went for a meal months ago, how great of friends they are, and Pepe knows the long term plan. 3 weeks later an open letter and an awkard loan to Italy.Well played…

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    Mute Jason Naughton
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    Jul 29th 2013, 12:46 PM

    What can BR do if he’s not given 75m to spend? Kenny put the club back 5 years by wasting that kind of money on Downing, Carroll and Henderson.

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    Mute Cash Stevens
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    Jul 29th 2013, 1:06 PM

    Liverpool were squandering millions in the transfer market long before Kenny arrived back on the scene.

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    Mute David Fitzmaurice
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    Jul 29th 2013, 4:08 PM

    Noel agree 100%. The guy is a spoofer and yet Liverpool fans just lap up his constant meanderings about nothing. Liverpool spend plenty of cash but mostly we buy players with potential who never amount to anything. Look at the duds we have purchased this year. Coutinho apart. As for Mignolet never in the past 3/4 seasons has he proved to better than Pepe. How can he go straight in as first choice without having to prove he deserves it. Rodgers has no track record as a manager yet he has been given a job to get LFC back into the top echelon of European football. Won’t happen I’m afraid and I am a Liverpool fan who is also a realist.

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    Mute Jamie McCormack
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    Jul 29th 2013, 8:36 PM

    Any Liverpool fans I know are solidly behind Rodgers, give the man time.

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    Mute Aaron Eric Butters
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    Jul 30th 2013, 10:36 AM

    One out of three ain’t bad :(

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    Mute Aaron Eric Butters
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    Jul 30th 2013, 10:42 AM

    Eh sturridge joe Allan and young sterling break through season all in Rodgers first full season
    Ever since the chap was a fitness coach with morinho and his crew at Chelsea mr Rodgers has been learning a trade
    I in no way have any affiliations with or for Lfc but by jaysus would I hate to work for you pair
    Give the man a chance to make your club what it once was or at least give him a chance to move gaff before you’s sack him FFs

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    Mute Owen Slattery
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    Jul 29th 2013, 1:12 PM

    Barca already have a new keeper coming in next year, I doubt they will want Reina

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    Mute Bin Truck
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    Jul 29th 2013, 1:07 PM

    Not being able to deal with an out swinging cross EVER forced him out…. He’s the most over-rated player Liverpool have ever had, he constantly made mistakes

    He only ever came good in the penalty shot outs against West Ham & Chelsea

    Good riddance

    5
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