Pepe Reina was hoping to sign a new contract with Liverpool until he was told that they were sending him to Napoli.
The Spanish international has today revealed that the first he heard of a move to the Italian club was after it had already been agreed.
“Although it was not my decision to leave I will accept it just like I have always accepted any decision that Liverpool have taken for me,” he wrote in an open letter to Liverpool fans on his website.
Pepe Reina was hoping to sign a new contract with Liverpool until he was told that they were sending him to Napoli.
The Spanish international has today revealed that the first he heard of a move to the Italian club was after it had already been agreed.
“Although it was not my decision to leave I will accept it just like I have always accepted any decision that Liverpool have taken for me,” he wrote in an open letter to Liverpool fans on his website.
“They signed me, picked me, gave me some of the best experiences of my life and looked after me,” he continued.
“If they feel that the best thing for me and for them is for me to go on loan to Napoli for a season then so be it.
“Napoli is a new challenge for me and I know that the fans are just as passionate about their team as the Liverpool fans, so I am really looking forward to playing for them this season and I will give my all.
“But 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.
“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.
“None of this will change my feelings for the club or the people in any way and now I have to look forward to a new challenge with Rafa Benitez, who I consider to be the best manager I have worked with, and I am fortunate to be going from one great club to another.
“Napoli remind me in many ways of the Liverpool I found in 2005, in all the affection they have shown me on my arrival, in having an ambitious project, even in coinciding and working with Benitez again.”
The 30-year-old Spaniard will replace Morgan De Sanctis in goal at the Stadio San Paolo after the latter joined Roma.