LONDON: Spain international goalkeeper Pepe Reina has left Liverpool for a season-long loan at Serie A club Napoli, but said in an open letter to fans of the five-time European champions it was not his decision to leave Anfield.
Reina, 30, who joined Liverpool in 2005, said he wanted to extend his contract at Anfield and was not consulted before the loan move was agreed.
“Although it was not my decision to leave I will accept it.
“If I have one regret, it is the way that I am leaving,” wrote Reina, who made nearly 400 appearances for Liverpool in all competitions and has played 28 times for Spain.
“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.”
The Spaniard said he was looking forward to the Napoli challenge and linking up again with his former Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez.
“I have to look forward to a new challenge with Rafa Benitez, who I consider to be the best manager I have worked with, and I am fortunate to be going from one great club to another,” he wrote. (Reuters)
