It looks as if the ‘keeper has played his last game for the Reds.
Liverpool goalkeeper Pepe Reina – who is on-loan at Napoli this season – will not return to Anfield in 12 months time and will instead make the permanent move to Barcelona, according to the Daily Star.
Long-term Barca stopper Victor Valdes has already confirmed that he will be leaving the Nou Camp when the ‘keeper’s contract expires in 2014 and therefore Reina would appear to be a ready-made replacement.
Mistakes for the Reds last term cost Reina the No.1 spot between the sticks, as manager Brendan Rodgers was moved to pay Sunderland £9m for Belgian ace Simon Mignolet.
The Spaniard was unwilling to play second fiddle to Mignolet and as a result was loaned to last year’s Serie A runners-up for a season.
The whole debacle has led to a breakdown in the relationship between the Merseyside club and the player and Reina is thought to be keen to end his term in the north west of England next summer.
Barca have been admirers of the 30-year-old for some time and view the Spain international as the ideal successor to Valdes, with the ‘keeper already having plenty of experience in La Liga.
Reina joined Liverpool from Villarreal in 2005, going onto perform penalty-saving heroics in the FA Cup final in his first season at the club and winning the Premier League Golden Glove award three years running.
However, despite making 393 appearances for the Reds in all competitions Rodgers had become unconvinced by the man between the sticks and did not waste any time bringing in the younger Mignolet.
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