Pepe Reina has signed a one-year deal with Villarreal after departing Lazio. The 39-year-old previously spent three seasons playing for the Spanish club. He helped them qualify for the Champions League for the first time ever in 2005. Reina became one of the Premier League’s best goalkeepers while at Liverpool. Pepe Reina says he has fulfilled his ‘promise’ to return to Villarreal, 17 years after leaving the club to join Liverpool.
The 39-year-old goalkeeper has signed a one-year deal with the Spanish club after leaving Lazio at the end of his contract. Reina previously spent three seasons at Villarreal, helping them reach the semi-finals of the UEFA Cup in 2004 and then qualify for the Champions League for the first time ever a year later. Continue reading ” PEPE REINA FULFILS ‘PROMISE’ OF RETURNING TO VILLARREAL, PLANS RETIREMENT”
For Pepe Reina and Lazio, they have a lot of work to do in the final ten games to secure a place in the Champions League for next season and make it back-to-back as far as the competition is concerned. Lazio made their return to the Champions League after many years and they were able to make it to the last 16 stage before they were knocked out by holders Bayern Munich. Pepe Reina was in goal over the two legs as the Bavarian giants sealed a 6-2 aggregate win over Lazio to progress into the quarterfinals.
He has served as an amazing back-up in Rossoneri. As a matter of fact, he has proved to be reliable when he was called on replace Gianluigi Donnarumma. Marco Giampaolo, the new boss of Milan is going to allow this Spanish World Cup winning player for free. Mattia Perin, the keeper from Juventus might be all set to leave this summer and Reina is being considered as a replacement as the goalkeeper. The twenty-six-year-old had made a move to Allianz Stadium for £10 million only last year. However, he is not happy to play second fiddle to the number one at Juventus Wojciech Szczesny.
“In this stage, it is always the same story.”Pepe Reina knows the Allianz, the home of Juventus. He was the protagonist of many battles in the ranks of Naples. He was among the poles and exulted like a madman when in April 2018 Kalidou Koulibaly climbed into the sky and, headed, scored the winning goal that allowed the Azzurri to reopen the championship. The goal brought down the strong hold that the Bianconeri had erected between their walls. The goals sparked the joy of an entire city giving it the thrill of being able to compete for the championship. That network was the pinnacle of Sarri’s team that went from euphoria to a historic success like the record of points (91) to the disappointment for the title lost in a hotel in Florence.
Reina’s contract with Milan is going to last till 2021. He has stated that he wants to enjoy football in these three years. However, he also has a strong desire to train and prepare to be a winning coach in the future. The goalkeeper doesn’t close his doors in that sense and will not shy away from training anyone. He hopes to get an opportunity to train Madrid. This is a dream that he nurtures. When it comes to his past at Barcelona, he says that he is truly grateful to his club which has given him the training, not just as a footballer but also as a human being. This has helped him to be what he is today.
The connection between Chelsea and Reina is not surprising as the Spain International had a significant role to play as far as the success behind Maurizio Sarri at Napoli is concerned. The Blues are all geared up to have a new goalkeeper this summer and Real Madrid are in agreement with the Blues for Thibaut Courtois. Reina although is now heading towards the end of his successful career, he is still a best performed and it was proven in the last season at Napoli. Reina is indeed an ideal match as he plays football like the way Sarri wants. The 35 year old efficiently distributed possession in the last season and allowed Napoli to start from the back fast with the help of the likes from the Sarri’s follower, Jorginho from Stadio San Paolo until Stamford Bridge.