Wednesday, February 06, 2013

Reina To See Out Liverpool Contract

Liverpool goalkeeper Pepe Reina has played down suggestions that he is set for a return to Barcelona to replace Victor Valdes.

The 30-year-old has, though, described the Spanish giants as the "best club in the world" after Barca 'keeper Valdes announced last month that he will leave when his current contract expires in 2014.

Reina, whose father Miguel was a shot-stopper at the Camp Nou between 1966 and 1973, made a few first-team appearances for Barca himself as a teenager after graduating from their youth set-up.

The Spain international, who arrived at Anfield from Villarreal in 2005, has had a mixed season, with a number of mistakes taking the shine off some impressive displays.

His decision to charge from his line during Sunday's Premier League match at Manchester City was ruthlessly punished by Sergio Aguero, who scored from a tight angle to earn a 2-2 draw.

But manager Brendan Rodgers has maintained that Reina is his No. 1 choice, and the goalkeeper is determined to see out a contract that runs until 2016. Reina, in Doha ahead of Spain's friendly against Uruguay on Wednesday, told Spanish media he was shocked by Valdes' decision to move on.

He said: "I was surprised because Victor is with the best team in the world. When I sign a contract, I fulfill it and I have signed with Liverpool until 2016. Barcelona is the best club in the world. I know what it means because I trained there as a player and as a person."

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