With Liverpool and Napoli unable to reach an agreement over the permanent transfer of Reds ‘keeper Pepe Reina, rumours linking the Spaniard with a move to German giants Bayern Munich have started to come out of the woodwork.
Though it seems tenuous at best, apparently their on the look-out for back-up for World Cup winning goalkeeper Manuel Neuer and Bayern manager Pep Guardiola has the 31-year old near the top of his wishlist. The veteran shot-stopper not only has experience playing in the “sweeper ‘keeper” role, but he’s also come up against some of the best sides in Europe in both the UEFA Cup and Champions League during his stints in Spain, England and Italy — something that would certainly appeal to the former Barca boss.
Despite making it sound like he’s played his last match for the Reds, the Spaniard no longer carries the kind of appeal he once did with Napoli boss Rafa Benitez unwilling to meet their £3.95mil asking price for his services. Earlier in the week, Reina confirmed that he’d like to like to see out the remainder of his career in Spain, but conceded that was looking increasingly unlikely.
“It’s normal that over the years you want to return home” he said. “But the big Spanish teams are covered in my role.” With a heavily rumoured return to Barcelona drying up and Atletico Madrid looking less and less likely to take a punt on the ageing shot-stopper, maybe a move to Germany to play second fiddle to Neuer wouldn’t be so bad.
He might even get to wear lederhosen…
