Pepe Reina has given an interview on Spanish radio which will only increase speculation around the club that he could make a summer move away from Anfield.
Speaking to Spanish radio station Onda Cero, the Liverpool shot-stopper said:
“I think it’s hard for me to come back to Spain to play. I think my place is in England – and right now that is with Liverpool,.
“It’s hard to see me returning to Spain. Barcelona and Madrid are the two teams you would aspire to in Spain and that’s impossible.
“Van der Sar is hanging up his gloves and people say that Arsenal are looking.
“I can’t do or say anything; I renewed my contract with Liverpool last year. But what a player wants, logically, is to challenge for titles.
“I would like to think that the departure of players does not mean that we are slipping.
“I think Liverpool will always be a big club but we have to be realistic and the reality is that right now we are not at the level of Manchester United, Manchester City, Chelsea or Arsenal. That’s the truth.
The interviewer pointed out that Pepe had won the FA Cup with Liverpool.
“Yes, but that was a long time ago. We used to fight to be among the top teams and to be in the Champions League but sadly in the last two years that has not been the case. Obviously, I want to play in the Champions League and I want to aspire to win titles.
Pepe Reina’s comments will not go down well with the Liverpool manager or board, who have been boosted in the past month with some much improved performances on the pitch.
Strong rumours were surfacing early in October that Torres and Reina had grown disillusioned at Liverpool – and with Torres departure in January, many fans fear that Reina will be the next one looking for the exit.
I’m not too impressed by these remarks even if he is speaking the truth. King Kenny has done wonders to project a calm and respectful outlook. The players have a responsibility to follow suit, especially those on long-term contracts. Pepe’s remarks are fodder for an English media hungry for juice and I am sure he knew what sort of reaction they would prompt. If a player wants to leave, there are surely ways to do it without it being all over the back pages. I hope he will explain himself, preferably behind closed doors. We don’t need more speculation and instability.
IF HE WANTS TO LEAVE ,SO BE IT, HE CAN LEAVE, AS LONG WE CAN GET FEW GOOD QUIDS FOR HIM,LOOK ELSEWHERE FOR GOOD REPLACEMENT,AS LONG AS IT IS NOT ANOTHER SPANISH PLAYER, THESE GUYS STINKS WHEN IT COMES DOWN TO LOYALTY WITH THE CLUB,GET AN ENGLISH STOPPER OR ANY OTHER ,BUT NO SPANISH PLAYER PLEASE! WE ARE TIRED OF THIS GUYS SULKING WHEN A TEAM GOES THROUGH A ROUGH PATCH!OH YEAH,FORGOT,THIS APPPLIES TO YOU TOO, RAFA,STAY OUT AND DONT EVER COME BACK!
I don’t think Reina necessarily wants to leave. He’s just acknowledging the obvious gap between LFC and CL spots right now. This is a translation of an interview in Spanish, and the media will do anything to raise a fuss over it. All he’s saying is he hypothetically wouldn’t go back to Spain and right now, his place is with LFC, although if they aren’t on the up, he understandably considers his options.
Ask him straight out if or not he wants to leave!. If so then sell him in the summer replacing him with a younger keeper who appreciates us!. I am getting fed-up of all these unthankful Spaniard’s who were nobody before we signed them!
They seem/ed more loyal to Rafa Benitez then to Liverpool FC.
He has been asked straight out so many times and every time has had to say, “I’m staying at Liverpool, I like Liverpool, I have a contract, etc.” It is getting quite boring hearing this stupid story over and over again. Look, Reina can stay or go. Like Kenny says, nobody is bigger than the football club. I have loved Pepe, but if he leaves, we’ll surely get someone top notch in his place… we won’t just stick Brad Jones between the pipes!!! Either way, I agree with Eured earlier that this is just a wind-up by the media. The Torres stories were not wind-ups because his body language showed it. Nobody could be surprised that he left. I would be surprised if Pepe left, but to United? We would never sell him to United! That would be ownership suicide.
All LFC FANS
To quote King Kenny “No player is bigger than the club” if Reina wants to leave his loss LFC will move forward as should all the great LFC fans.
my goodness you “fans” believe every piece of BS the gutter media print..>>>???
If these comments are true, its the wrong time to be saying them. If he does want to leave at the end of the season, then is the time to say it publicly not now when Liverpool have started to play like a team going somewhere.
People really – the club wont win anything for years to come. That is so obvious I cant figure out why some people still think otherwise. A new #9 that didnt want to come, #7 that wont perform alone, no way there will be any major winnings – Pepe should go as he still has time to grab some merits. Get someone young and english up north that can understand the scots accent instead.
Is that fear I smell? You’re either a Manc who has no funds, a Chavski fan who has no history or a Gunner who has’nt a clue due to a miserly boss! Lol Trust me.. with the right men in charge on every level, the Liver bird is ready to fly again! YNWA 18+5
nothing would susprise me so much money involved nowadays. but no one is indespensible after all. but a familar pattern emerging here. how many articles have we read in the last six months on our goalkeeper to many. really dont know about our relief keepers at this point. very hard to find top class keepers . the are the number two in importance after the strikers
name me an english club that have looked world class this season.he is a great keeper so he must see this.we have kenny who has steadied the ship,we have owners who have showed they are willing to back us. pepe if you are leaving please be honest and admit it is for the money,don’t slip out the back door like a thief in the night like that other money hungry bastard,be a man stick by the people who have supported you from the start, stuck with you through thick and thin,we didn’t like what was going on but we didn’t leave and support another team,we will be great next season so stay and prosper.
It’s hard to know what to think. Pepe seems to be very committed to Liverpool but if the interview is accurate, it seems that he is looking to pastures new. I would be saddened to see him go but not totally disheartened if he were to leave for a big fee and we were to find a suitable replacement.
The owners and Kenny are smart. I’m sure that they will be looking to find a replacement behind the scenes. As Kenny rightly put it, “No player is bigger than the club”.
what the fuck have arsenal and man city ever won, if ye not happy follow the other gobshite out the door
Players come and go, especially those from other countries.
If he should end up wanting to go elsewhere, then let him. I like his skills, but another one can replace him if we need to.
I have faith in the club and its abillity to come up with another great keeper.
Maybe we should get Almunia. Hes available and cheap. We can always trust our defense to bail us out, like agaist Chelski. Really, we will fight for the 9-5 places anyhow so why bother…
That was how the Torres saga started. He’s starting to romance the other clubs – a kind of come and get me plea. #LFC should look deep into this statement and come up with a “Plan B” material to cater for the other side of this story should it eventually become true. Spaniards always play their cards close to their heart. You can never predict what they will eventually do. Alonso & Torres stuck their foot to the ground and left. I won’t be surprised if Reina too follow in their footstep. I know Gerard may not.
Totally agree with Eured. F-OFF those wankers!!! IN KING KENNY WE TRUST! YNWA!
absolute BS, ???? my goodness there are some gullible ppl. amongst us , why do you all get so excited? , FFS!..U know themedia cant stand the idea that we are happy after winning @ chelski, its predictable!!!! they just love to wind our fans up, and there U go, falling for it??? amazing! how many times must Pepe say hes happy @ LFC ???..knee jerkers!
U’d better watch out! This was how Torres started till he left without saying goodbye. It’s not the first time he’s said this. LFC, please start looking for a replacement NOW!
Rumours of Reina having a hotel meeting with Fergie recently, I guess they weren’t there for lunch