Goalkeeper Jose Reina has expressed his disappointment at the manner of his departure from Liverpool, claiming the club decided to loan him to Napoli without telling him first and that he ‘deserved better’.
The Spain international’s switch to the Italian side on a season-long deal has been confirmed by the Merseyside outfit.
Reina has spent eight years at Anfield, and, in a letter to Reds fans published on his official website, the 30-year-old 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.”
Reina had also been linked this summer with a move to Barcelona, the Spanish giants he began his career with, and he admits he had made it known to Liverpool that it was something he wanted them to consider should such an offer come in.
But Reina has also stressed he made it clear to Reds boss Brendan Rodgers he was otherwise happy to stay, and says that with no Barca approach having emerged, he was “surprised” about the Napoli situation arising.
He said: “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.”
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