BEntiez Rules Out Reina Signing
Former Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez has ruled out the possibility of Pepe Reina rejoining Napoli, but this time on a permanent basis, in the summer transfer window. The Spaniard spent last season on loan at the Italian club after losing his first-team spot to Simon Mignolet. The Belgian goalkeeper still reigns supreme at Anfield, which is unlikely to allow Reina back into the first-team for the coming season. He is widely expected to be on his way out. Barcelona were rumoured as one of the possible destinations for the 32-year-old, but the Catalan club signed other transfer targets.
Napoli is widely seen as the last remaining solace for the player, who finally made his World Cup debut at the 2014 tournament for the Spanish national team. Reina appears to have rediscovered his good form in the 12 months at Napoli. Despite this, Benitez is that it is looking highly unlikely that the Italian outfit will be making an offer for Reina. The wages of the goalkeeper is proving to be a stumbling block as is the transfer fee demanded by Liverpool. Reina could cost more than £ 7 million given that he is still at the prime for a goalkeeper.
Benitez could only manage a third-place finish with Napoli in his first season back in Italian football. “We don't seek a goalkeeper. Rafael, with whom I keep in touch often to monitor his progress first hand, Andujar and Colombo are a sufficient guarantee for our goal," said Benitez, who regularly utilised Reina as the first choice goalkeeper last season. However, Napoli were inconsistent throughout the campaign and they could not sustain the title challenge as well as Roma or Juventus. The only consolation from last campaign was finishing in the top three and ensuring Champions League football for the upcoming season.