Influential Spaniard Pepe Reina has responded to reports that claimed he had told manager Roy Hodgson he wishes to leave the club.
Reina told lfc.tv “I have seen a newspaper has made this suggestion. It is completely untrue.
“I have not told the manager that I wish to leave in January, or at any other time. It is important our fans know this.
“I have a long-term contract at Liverpool and I am fully committed to the club.
“Our new owner met me and some of the other players last week and I was very happy with what he told me.”
Reina, 28, is reported to have a £20m release cause in his contract which he can activate in the summer. A report in today’s Mirror newspaper claimed Reina is dillusioned with life at Anfield and will seek a move away.
Meanwhile, The Telegraph wrote that LFC have shortlisted German stopper Manuel Neuer and Ajax’s Maarten Stekelenburg as possible replacements for the World Cup winner.
Reina is a hugely popular character with supporters and players, missing only 8 league games since his arrival in 2005. He is closing in on 200 appearances for the club and won the golden glove for most clean sheets in the Premier League in his first three seasons, narrowly missing out in the last two. He has been earmarked as a future captain given his tremendous attitude and just this spring signed a 6-year contract at the club.
Since then though, Reina has seen many promises broken with regards new signings and investment into the club, not to mention the change in management, and now ownership, and goalkeeping coach and training. It was recently reported that he was baffled by the change of style new goalkeeper coach Mike Kelly had adopted for him.
Earlier this week, Reina was quoted saying “I signed a six-year deal seven months ago and I’m happy at the club but every footballer wants to be competing for trophies and winning things.
“I will stay at Liverpool until the end of the season. I know there are rumours of me leaving but I want to make it clear that I have no intention of going back to Spain.”
The key quote there being “until the end of the season” – which seemingly lead to these reports of him wishing to leave.
Last week John W. Henry said “We don’t want a player at the club who doesn’t want to be at the club. It’s really up to us to provide the kind of leadership, on and off the field, that any player at the club or who is coming to the club wants to be here.”
The Times reports today that Reina does not wish to leave, but is equally not happy with the current situation at the club.
What is clear, is that NESV need to show the likes of Reina and Fernando Torres that their ambitions match the players.
