• Serie A

My Liverpool career is over - Reina

Pepe Reina has teamed up with former Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez © Getty Images

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Pepe Reina has revealed he is resigned to the fact he is unlikely to ever play for Liverpool again after being loaned out to Serie A outfit Napoli.

Reina signed a season-long loan deal with Rafael Benitez's side and has featured prominently for the Partenopei - a contrast to what he could have expected at Anfield following the summer signing of Simon Mignolet.

Although Benitez is likely to request a permanent contract for Reina, the Spain international expressed his disappointment at the realisation his Liverpool career could be over.

When asked if he expects to play for the Reds again, Reina told the Daily Mail: "No. At the moment it's difficult to think about being a Liverpool player next year. They have a young goalkeeper in Simon Mignolet and the manager prefers him to me. That's the reason why I'm here and he will be at the club next year as well.

"There's no reason to think I'll be a Liverpool player from now on but we'll see where the future takes us. It's been a good move so far and I don't regret what happened. I would have preferred to say goodbye in a different way."

The 31-year-old begrundingly spoke of his swift exit from Liverpool and revealed he wasn't consulted by Brendan Rodgers about the move until terms were already agreed.

"It did come as a surprise," Reina added. "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."

Reina has three years remaining on his Liverpool contract.

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