Reina rules out Liverpool return

Former Reds goalkeeper Pepe Reina has denied that he will ever pull on the Liverpool shirt again and reveals that a trace of bitterness lingers about the nature of his exit from Anfield, reports the Daily Mail.

Reina, who is reunited with Rafa Benitez in Italy, has been key in their impressive start to the season and became the first goalkeeper to ever save a Mario Balotelli penalty last weekend as Napoli won in the San Siro for the first time in 27 years.

Reina revealed he was almost pushed out of the club when he was on holiday during the summer, following a season finishing with seven clean sheets in 10 Premier League games.

‘It did come as a surprise,’ said Reina, who has three years left on his Anfield deal. ‘It was the club [Liverpool] who made the move. I was on my holidays and nobody told me anything. Suddenly Napoli called and said they were agreeing terms with Liverpool and Liverpool just rang me two days later and said the same. They probably had their own reasons.’

It all happened quickly and the 31-year-old signed on loan for one season. Benitez will work on him to make it permanent, but accepts there will be competition, possibly from Barcelona, who expect Victor Valdes to leave when his contract expires next year.

Reina is adamant that a return to Anfield is not on the cards, ‘No,’ he said, shaking his head.