The Reds boss has admitted the club’s decision to offload the keeper because they cannot justify his €127,000-a-week wages following the €10 million arrival of Simon Mignolet
Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers has confirmed that goalkeeper Pepe Reina is set to join Napoli on a season-long loan because of “financial” reasons.
Goal reported this week that the Serie A side had turned their attention to the Spain international after growing impatient at Julio Cesar’s reluctance to accept their contract offer.
And Rodgers has now confirmed that Reina will leave Liverpool this summer, as the club cannot justify his wages following the €10 million signing of Simon Mignolet from Sunderland in June.
“Financially it is something we needed to look at,” Rodgers told the Liverpool Echo.
“That would be the reason because obviously you wouldn’t move on a top goalkeeper.
“It reared its head over the last few months and I had to prepare for it by bringing in a new goalkeeper.
“Pepe is a good guy. I’ve a lot of time for him, and he understands what I want to do totally.
“He’s got a big season ahead because it’s a World Cup year and one where, if he wasn’t going to be playing, could severely harm his chances of going.”
Reina, who has three years remaining on his €128,000-a-week contract at Anfield, will be reunited with former Reds boss Rafa Benitez at Napoli.
The Spanish coach has already signed young goalkeeper Rafael from Santos for €5m earlier in July but wants a battle-hardened No.1 for the new campaign, and one who can also guide the 22-year-old Brazilian.