Should this be lauded or lambasted?
Either way, people have got a pretty strong opinion on Pepe Reina’s actions, after the Spanish goalkeeper sent out an open letter thanking Liverpool’s fans after moving to Napoli on loan.
But it’s not all roses and dreamy sunsets in Reina’s letter, as the 30-year-old Spanish international lets loose on the current management staff and directors in charge of the Anfield outfit.
Reina also claims that he wasn’t told about his loan move to Napoli and that he “deserved better than that.”
After eight years of loyal service, it’s hard to disagree.
The letter was over 1,100 words long and delved into many highlights of his Liverpool career.
Here are just a few excerpts from Reina’s articulate, thoughtful and, at times, damning rebuttal. Enjoy.
It is a strange feeling for me to think that next season I will not be a Liverpool player. For the past eight years, that is all I have known. The club, the staff, the city, the people and the supporters have played a massive part in my life. Liverpool is special in a way that only those who are lucky enough to experience the club close up can understand. It has given me memories that will live with me forever and friendships that will last just as long.
Okay, nice start, continue…
They [the fans and players] deserve the best of times and it would give me so much pleasure to see Liverpool back where they belong, challenging for trophies and getting back into the top four. That was where the club was when I first arrived and although I am leaving a different club, one with new owners, a new manager, new players and new challenges, I honestly believe that Liverpool can reach those levels again.
Here comes the kicker.
I am disappointed that I will not be part of that and 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. They signed me, picked me, gave me some of the best experiences of my life and looked after me. 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.
Now it gets interesting.
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.
And finally a nice goodbye…
This is my chance to say thank you to everyone for everything that you have given to me and to my family. My children consider Liverpool to be their home and hopefully their love for the city and also for the club will only grow while we are away. I would have liked to have been able to say goodbye in a different way but because of the way the move came about this was not possible.
Thank you for everything. Good luck. I will see you soon.
Pepe Reina
