Newcastle manager Rafa Benitez says he is unlikely to make a move for Napoli goalkeeper Pepe Reina.
We reported yesterday about comments the Magpies boss made about Reina’s team mates Dries Mertens and Kalidou Koulibaly, and part of the same interview with CalcioNapoli24, Rafa explained that he doesn’t see Newcastle making a move for the former Liverpool keeper.
The Spaniard is quoted by the website (translated by Squawka)as saying that the number of goalkeepers the Magpies already have would make a move for the 34 year old unlikely.
“I think there’s nothing to say about Reina, Pepe is a great player but above all a leader in the dressing room. We missed him in the year he went to Bayern Munich, now he can make a difference both on and off the pitch.”
“Would I take him to Newcastle if he left? I respect Napoli, as that’s where he is, and our club which has a lot of goalkeepers who are doing well.”
“We need to be calm, we’ll talk to the club and decide on our targets. I have a great personal relationship with Reina, he’s a great goalkeeper, but he’s at Napoli and I’m sure he’s happy there.”
Reina moved on loan from Liverpool to Napoli in 2013 during Benitez’s first season as manager in Serie A, but he returned to Merseyside and joined Bayern for the start of the 2014/15 campaign. After a season on the bench in Bavaria, he re-joined the Italian club permanently for £1.7m.
During his time in Italy, the former Spanish international has played 132 times, conceded 134 and kept 44 clean sheets. He has one year left on his contract and there has been speculation he could be offloaded as Napoli manager Maurizio Sarri seeks a long term replacement.
