Pepe Reina has received a warm welcome via Twitter from new Bayern Munich team-mate Javi Martinez.
Liverpool have finally sold goalkeeper Pepe Reina – as the veteran stopper is on the brink of joining Bundesliga champions Bayern Munich in a rumoured £3 million deal.
The German side have long been looking for a quality back-up to undisputed number one Manuel Neuer. Pep Guardiola knows Reina well from their days together at Barcelona and has moved fast to snap him up – after reported interest in Keylor Navas dissipated with his signing for Real Madrid yesterday afternoon.
Reina has been a top goalkeeper for many a year now but with the signing of Simon Mignolet last summer he has become an outcast at Anfield. Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers is a bigger fan of the Belgian and therefore sent Reina out on loan to Napoli last term.
The Italian side wanted to give their young Brazilian goalkeeper Rafael a chance to shine next season and therefore pulled out of any potential long-term agreement.
With that in mind Reina has been plucked up by Bayern, where he will play second fiddle to Neuer – but be reunited with a good friend in Guardiola.
The players however are obviously pleased to see him join. Bayern have three Spanish players already at the club – Thiago Alcantara, Javi Martinez and fellow newbie Juan Bernat – Reina makes it four.
And one of those players has already welcomed his fellow countryman to the Allianz Arena – Martinez posting this on Twitter:
Time will tell if Reina gets the chance to help wrestle the Champions League back from Real Madrid this season.
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
