Newcastle look set to miss out on Napoli goalkeeper Pepe Reina.
Pepe Reina
The agent of Napoli goalkeeper Pepe Reina has told Calcio Mercato 24 that the player will be staying at the Stadio San Paolo despite rumours of a move to Newcastle United.
Reina, 34, is currently in his second spell with Napoli having previously been on loan with the club during the 2013/14 season, and after just one season with Bayern Munich, he returned to Naples in 2015.
Napoli’s Pepe Reina
The Spaniard has now made almost 100 appearances for Napoli in his second stint with the club, and is one of the most experienced figures in Maurizio Sarri’s squad.
This week though, speculation has surrounded Reina’s future. It started with The Sun claiming that Newcastle United – managed by Rafael Benitez, who signed Reina for Liverpool and Napoli – were keen to land him this summer.
Newcastle United manager Rafael Benitez
The Northern Echo added that Newcastle are planning a major overhaul of their goalkeeping options, and would pursue Reina’s signature in a £4million swoop, before Sky Italia’s Gianluca Di Marzio reported that Reina’s agent Manuel Garcia Quilon was set for crunch talks with Napoli over the goalkeeper’s future.
Reina’s agent allegedly wanted talks over the player’s contract situation, as his current deal expires in 2018 – and given Newcastle’s search for a goalkeeper, Reina’s relationship with Benitez and the goalkeeper’s contract status, a move to St. James’ Park seemed plausible.
Pepe Reina and Rafael Benitez
However, Quilon now appears to have had that meeting with Napoli chief Aurelio De Laurentiis, as he has told Calcio Mercato 24 that Reina will stay until 2018.
Quilon suggested that there may have been some off-field issues but Reina isn’t concerned about that, effectively ruling out a move to Newcastle by confirming that Reina is staying put until his contract ends next year.
“Pepe will stay at Napoli until the end of his contract,” said Quilon. “Certain issues have nothing to do with what happens on the pitch and do not interest us. He is staying at Napoli until 2018,” he added.
Would you have liked to see Reina join Newcastle?
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
