Pepe Reina is wanted by his former Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez – but a reunion at Newcastle United looks unlikely.
It’s around two months since the Championship season ended and we are still no closer to knowing who will be between the sticks for Newcastle United when the new Premier League campaign kicks off in August.
With reports in the Northern Echo suggesting that Rafael Benitez may consider selling Karl Darlow despite the 26-year-old’s impressive performances in The Magpies’ title winning campaign, they are in the market for an upgrade.
However, after Willy Caballero chose to sit on the Chelsea bench rather than fight for a first-team berth at St James’ Park, per The Chronicle, speculation linking Pepe Reina to a reunion with former Liverpool boss Benitez has intensified.
Pepe Reina and Rafael Benitez won the 2006 FA Cup together at Liverpool
According to The Chronicle, the Napoli goalkeeper, who is out of contract next summer, is a target for Newcastle this summer and he has been linked relentlessly over the last few weeks.
Yet, with tension reportedly rising behind the scenes over the club’s slow progress in the transfer market, it appears that Benitez is set to miss out on another target.
Workaholic
There has been much talk of a rift between Reina and Napoli’s outspoken president Aurelio De Laurentiis but the latter has appeared to douse the flames by publically lauding the long-serving Spanish international.
“Pepe’s contract is expiring, next year there will be a problem. If he gets injured, what are we going to do?” De Laurentiis said in quotes reported by Football Italia. “If it were up to me I’d take one to gamble on and keep the very good and experienced – as well as charismatic – Reina.
“Pepe is the best and he has all my confidence. He’s like me, he’s a workaholic. If Reina stayed with me for life I’d be very happy.”
Furthermore, The Chronicle adds that Real Sociedad goalkeeper Geronimo Rulli, who had reportedly been identified as a long-term replacement for Reina at Napoli, insists that he will stay at San Sebastien despite being contacted by the Serie A side.
Therefore, this may be the clearest indication yet that a Reina-Rafa reunion is not on the cards.
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