On loan Napoli goalkeeper Pepe Reina has admitted he is ‘super happy’ at the Partenopei, but admits that a move to Barcelona would be tempting.
On loan Napoli goalkeeper Pepe Reina has admitted he is ‘super happy’ at the Partenopei, but admits that a move to Barcelona would be tempting.
The Spain international is currently enjoying a season-long loan with Rafa Benitez’s team, but rumours have persisted that the Spanish giants want Reina to replace to departing Victor Valdes at the end of the season.
“I am super happy. It was a decision on the rebound but so far at both a sporting and family level everything is going better than expected,” he told Mundo Deportivo.
“Why Napoli? It is how it was. Liverpool signed another goalkeeper and the Coach announced that I would not play and that he prefers Mignolet and there was the chance for me to go to Napoli.
“I know Rafa Benitez perfectly, I know what he can get from me and I see it as a better place to fight for things. It is an interesting sporting project, a major League, there is the Champions League, and this is a young and hungry team.
“Here you have more of a desire to please the fans because they are so demanding. I have that hunger that perhaps I had lost at Liverpool.
“It stimulates you to improve in each game and each training session.
“It’s going to be hard to win the Scudetto. It would be great for the club and the city, but there is this team….Juventus – they’ve played together for a long time and have the best squad in Serie A.
“But after 28 years without the Scudetto, it would be great to see the joy on the faces of the Napoli fans.”
The shot-stopper then responded to stories that Barcelona sent a scout to Napoli’s game against Borussia Dortmund last week.
“It’s logical for them to follow Borussia Dortmund and Napoli players because they are two great teams.
“I am focused on doing well for Napoli. But what happens in the future is not for me to say. What is certain is that I will return to Liverpool at the end of the season, and then we’ll see.
“Of course, for any player, it is a compliment when a big club is linked with you. Barcelona are a great club.”