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You forced me out! Reina takes swipe at Liverpool in emotional open letter... but also reveals his greatest moment was celebrating wildly against Man United
By RIK SHARMA
PUBLISHED: 04:06 EST, 29 July 2013 | UPDATED: 05:36 EST, 29 July 2013
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Pepe Reina has blasted the Liverpool hierarchy for deciding his future behind his back, forcing him to leave the club and join Napoli on loan
The Spaniard, who also thanked the Anfield faithful for their support in an emotional open letter, has been reunited with former manager Rafa Benitez at the Serie A club.
Liverpool signed Sunderland stopper Simon Mignolet and agreed a deal with Napoli boss Rafa Benitez to send Reina to Italy.
On his way: Pepe Reina hit out at Liverpool for forcing him out of the club
Liverpool signed Sunderland stopper Simon Mignolet and agreed a deal with Napoli boss Benitez to send Reina to Italy.
In the letter, published on his website pepereina25.com he wrote: 'But 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.
Big step: Simon Mignolet, training in Bangkok, will be Liverpool's first-choice keeper next season
'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.'
The boss: Brendan Rodgers calls £9m signing Mignolet one of the best keepers in Europe
Hoping: Reina would have liked to replace Victor Valdes at Barcelona
Reina was, however, looking forward to reuniting with his friend, and former Liverpool manager, Benitez.
'None of this will change my feelings for the club or the people in any way and now 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 continued.
'Napoli remind me in many ways of the Liverpool I found in 2005, in all the affection they have shown me on my arrival, in having an ambitious project, even in coinciding and working with Benitez again.
'This memory which in part unites me with you, makes me happy and feel very motivated to begin this new project.'
Stalwart: Reina has been Liverpool's first-choice stopper since arriving from Villarreal in 2005
Reina's letter in full
It is a strange feeling for me to think that next season I will not be a Liverpool player. For the past eight years, that is all I have known. The club, the staff, the city, the people and the supporters have played a massive part in my life.
Liverpool is special in a way that only those who are lucky enough to experience the club close up can understand. It has given me memories that will live with me forever and friendships that will last just as long.
But more than anything else, it has given me an understanding of what it is like to play for the most wonderful English club. 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. I believe that anything is possible no matter what the situation is because at Liverpool there is no such thing as a lost cause.
And I have been humbled by the fight for justice for the 96 which showed me that the Liverpool people will always fight for what they believe in.
I know that I have been blessed to be part of a Club like that and I hope that in return I have always given my best and represented Liverpool in the right way. There have been good times and bad times but no matter what the situation has been I hope that my passion has been clear.
I have been asked what my favourite Liverpool moment was and if I had to pick one it wouldn’t be a save or winning a trophy. It would be my celebration against Manchester United when David Ngog scored a late goal. That is probably the quickest I have ever run in my life! It shows what playing for Liverpool meant to me and also that there was nothing better than winning a big game at Anfield.
I used to look at the Kop when we scored those kind of goals in big games and I would be jealous of the supporters going crazy. If the closest I will get to that is running the length of the pitch and jumping on my team mates backs then that will do for me.
Obviously, I won’t be able to do that next season but I hope that the supporters and my team mates will be able to enjoy many more moments like that. They deserve the best of times and it would give me so much pleasure to see Liverpool back where they belong, challenging for trophies and getting back into the top four. That was where the club was when I first arrived and although I am leaving a different club, one with new owners, a new manager, new players and new challenges, I honestly believe that Liverpool can reach those levels again.
I am disappointed that I will not be part of that and although it was not my decision to leave I will accept it just like I have always accepted any decision that Liverpool have taken for me. They signed me, picked me, gave me some of the best experiences of my life and looked after me. If they feel that the best thing for me and for them is for me to go on loan to Napoli for a season then so be it. Napoli is a new challenge for me and I know that the fans are just as passionate about their team as the Liverpool fans, so I am really looking forward to playing for them this season and I will give my all.
But 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.
None of this will change my feelings for the club or the people in any way and now 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.
Napoli remind me in many ways of the Liverpool I found in 2005, in all the affection they have shown me on my arrival, in having an ambitious project, even in coinciding and working with Benitez again…This memory which in part unites me with you, makes me happy and feel very motivated to begin this new project.
This is my chance to say thank you to everyone for everything that you have given to me and to my family. My children consider Liverpool to be their home and hopefully their love for the city and also for the club will only grow while we are away. I would have liked to have been able to say goodbye in a different way but because of the way the move came about this was not possible.
Maybe in the near future I can do it properly so that I can show my appreciation to you but all I would ask now is that you keep on inspiring the manager and the players just like you always have done and help Liverpool to become the club that you deserve once again. I would like nothing better than to come back at the end of my year away and for Liverpool to be back where they belong.
Thank you for everything. Good luck. I will see you soon.
Pepe Reina
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/foo...#ixzz2aQlZaU00
Follow us: @MailOnline on Twitter | DailyMail on Facebook
PUBLISHED: 04:06 EST, 29 July 2013 | UPDATED: 05:36 EST, 29 July 2013
39 shares
62
View
comments
Pepe Reina has blasted the Liverpool hierarchy for deciding his future behind his back, forcing him to leave the club and join Napoli on loan
The Spaniard, who also thanked the Anfield faithful for their support in an emotional open letter, has been reunited with former manager Rafa Benitez at the Serie A club.
Liverpool signed Sunderland stopper Simon Mignolet and agreed a deal with Napoli boss Rafa Benitez to send Reina to Italy.
On his way: Pepe Reina hit out at Liverpool for forcing him out of the clubLiverpool signed Sunderland stopper Simon Mignolet and agreed a deal with Napoli boss Benitez to send Reina to Italy.
In the letter, published on his website pepereina25.com he wrote: 'But 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.
Big step: Simon Mignolet, training in Bangkok, will be Liverpool's first-choice keeper next season'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.'
The boss: Brendan Rodgers calls £9m signing Mignolet one of the best keepers in EuropeHoping: Reina would have liked to replace Victor Valdes at BarcelonaReina was, however, looking forward to reuniting with his friend, and former Liverpool manager, Benitez.
'None of this will change my feelings for the club or the people in any way and now 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 continued.
'Napoli remind me in many ways of the Liverpool I found in 2005, in all the affection they have shown me on my arrival, in having an ambitious project, even in coinciding and working with Benitez again.
'This memory which in part unites me with you, makes me happy and feel very motivated to begin this new project.'
Stalwart: Reina has been Liverpool's first-choice stopper since arriving from Villarreal in 2005Reina's letter in full
It is a strange feeling for me to think that next season I will not be a Liverpool player. For the past eight years, that is all I have known. The club, the staff, the city, the people and the supporters have played a massive part in my life.
Liverpool is special in a way that only those who are lucky enough to experience the club close up can understand. It has given me memories that will live with me forever and friendships that will last just as long.
But more than anything else, it has given me an understanding of what it is like to play for the most wonderful English club. 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. I believe that anything is possible no matter what the situation is because at Liverpool there is no such thing as a lost cause.
And I have been humbled by the fight for justice for the 96 which showed me that the Liverpool people will always fight for what they believe in.
I know that I have been blessed to be part of a Club like that and I hope that in return I have always given my best and represented Liverpool in the right way. There have been good times and bad times but no matter what the situation has been I hope that my passion has been clear.
I have been asked what my favourite Liverpool moment was and if I had to pick one it wouldn’t be a save or winning a trophy. It would be my celebration against Manchester United when David Ngog scored a late goal. That is probably the quickest I have ever run in my life! It shows what playing for Liverpool meant to me and also that there was nothing better than winning a big game at Anfield.
I used to look at the Kop when we scored those kind of goals in big games and I would be jealous of the supporters going crazy. If the closest I will get to that is running the length of the pitch and jumping on my team mates backs then that will do for me.
Obviously, I won’t be able to do that next season but I hope that the supporters and my team mates will be able to enjoy many more moments like that. They deserve the best of times and it would give me so much pleasure to see Liverpool back where they belong, challenging for trophies and getting back into the top four. That was where the club was when I first arrived and although I am leaving a different club, one with new owners, a new manager, new players and new challenges, I honestly believe that Liverpool can reach those levels again.
I am disappointed that I will not be part of that and although it was not my decision to leave I will accept it just like I have always accepted any decision that Liverpool have taken for me. They signed me, picked me, gave me some of the best experiences of my life and looked after me. If they feel that the best thing for me and for them is for me to go on loan to Napoli for a season then so be it. Napoli is a new challenge for me and I know that the fans are just as passionate about their team as the Liverpool fans, so I am really looking forward to playing for them this season and I will give my all.
But 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.
None of this will change my feelings for the club or the people in any way and now 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.
Napoli remind me in many ways of the Liverpool I found in 2005, in all the affection they have shown me on my arrival, in having an ambitious project, even in coinciding and working with Benitez again…This memory which in part unites me with you, makes me happy and feel very motivated to begin this new project.
This is my chance to say thank you to everyone for everything that you have given to me and to my family. My children consider Liverpool to be their home and hopefully their love for the city and also for the club will only grow while we are away. I would have liked to have been able to say goodbye in a different way but because of the way the move came about this was not possible.
Maybe in the near future I can do it properly so that I can show my appreciation to you but all I would ask now is that you keep on inspiring the manager and the players just like you always have done and help Liverpool to become the club that you deserve once again. I would like nothing better than to come back at the end of my year away and for Liverpool to be back where they belong.
Thank you for everything. Good luck. I will see you soon.
Pepe Reina
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/foo...#ixzz2aQlZaU00
Follow us: @MailOnline on Twitter | DailyMail on Facebook
Tell me your strategy for Liverpool breaking into the top 4 again? And while you're at it, tell me who is "running". Other than Suarez, every other player not sold or loaned out is interested in staying; even Reina wanted to stay...Sturridge, Coutinho, Skrtel, Sterling, Lucas, Johnson, Enrique...are they all running? KMT. Deal in reality not superficiality. Your hatred for Rodgers blinds you from the obvious...we just don't have the money. Wenger, Fergueson, Mourinho, Pelligrini...any manager at Liverpool right now with the funds (we don't have) would be suffering the same fate. Your arguments against Rodgers are just plain silly. And a next thing...do you realize that NOT ONE GOAL has been scored against the defense in the preseason? No other Prem team can say that. It is unrealistic to think that will carry over into the league, but it is the right start. Give credit where it is due - don't be a demagogue.
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