by RED BEERGOGGLES » Tue Nov 09, 2010 3:14 pm
Liverpool Echo (9/11/2010
PEPE REINA today raised fresh doubt about his Anfield future after admitting he could not guarantee he will stay at the club beyond the end of this season.
Liverpool’s iconic goalkeeper signed a six-year deal in April but that has not stopped a number of clubs – most notably Arsenal – coveting him.
It is no secret Reina had become disillusioned with life under the previous ownership regime and he, perhaps, was the most vocal of the squad in criticising Tom Hicks and George Gillett.
Arsenal’s attempts to sign Reina in July led to a clause being inserted in his contract that would allow him to leave Anfield if the club received offers of more than £20m.
Reina won the European Super Cup, FA Cup and Community Shield in his first year with Liverpool but is frustrated that he has not added to that haul in the time since.
“Rafael Benitez was an essential person for this club and the reason I came to Liverpool,” said Reina, who arrived from Villarreal in 2005.
“I signed a six-year deal seven months ago and I’m happy at the club, but every footballer wants to be competing for trophies and winning things.
“I will stay at Liverpool at least until the end of the season.
"I know there are rumours about me leaving but I want to make it clear that I have no intention of going back to Spain.”
That will set alarm bells ringing among supporters who idolise Reina, a four time winner of the Premier League’s Golden Glove award.
However, New England Sports Ventures are well aware of Reina’s value to the club and John W Henry has spoken with several senior players – including him and Fernando Torres – about future plans.
Further more, boss Roy Hodgson told the ECHO late last month just how highly he values Reina – and that he would not want to lose him.
“Pepe is fantastic here, he is a lifeblood of this team,” said Hodgson. “Everything he does around the club is excellent,
“He is always lively in the dressing room, he is always first class in training and he always wants to do more to improve.
“He demands better from those around him, he is always pushing people on. He is a player who we hold in the highest esteem.
“We do not want to sell him. I would like to think that we are going to become a successful club once again and Pepe is crucial to that.
“We want to promise the players we have got here that we are going to be up there fighting once again and we are absolutely not looking to sell any of our better players.”
Definitely cant afford to lose a player of this importance ....we searched for a long time before we got the real deal as far as keepers were concerned ... the club should fight tooth and nail to fend of all impending offers ... and give the lad some assurances
up thats not there. I mean a gentlemans agreement in modern football? They're clueless.
Mate let it go, just try and let it go.
