The 31-year-old is delighted to be at Napoli and working with Rafael Benitez once again, suggesting that he is hungrier for success this season

Napoli goalkeeper Pepe Reina has admitted that he does not see himself returning to Liverpool.

The Spaniard, who is currently on a season-long loan at the Serie A side, believes Brendan Rodgers’ preference for Simon Mignolet effectively spells the end of his Anfield career.

However, the 31-year-old insists he has no regrets over moving to Naples, where he has begun the season in strong fashion.

“No, at the moment, it’s difficult to think about being a Liverpool player next year,” Reina told the Daily Mail. “They have a young goalkeeper in Simon Mignolet and the manager prefers him to me.

“That’s the reason why I’m here and he will be at the club next year as well. There’s no reason to think I’ll be a Liverpool player from now on but we’ll see where the future takes us. It’s been a good move so far and I don’t regret what happened.

“It is such an important one for me with the World Cup around the corner and returning to the  top flight, playing in the  Champions League and fighting for the title, is something I have missed in the last two or three years.

“I’m happy to be back at this level. I never expected it but it’s been a great decision. I feel invigorated by the move.”

Reina has expressed concern over the manner of his Liverpool exit, though, suggesting that the first he heard of a move away was when he received a phonecall from Napoli while on holiday.

“It did come as a surprise,” Reina explained. “I would have preferred to say goodbye in a different way.

“It was the club [Liverpool] who made the move. I was on my holidays and nobody told me anything. Suddenly Napoli called and said they were agreeing terms with Liverpool and Liverpool just rang me two days later and said the same. They probably had their own reasons.”

The Spaniard is also delighted to be back working with Napoli boss Rafael Benitez and claims that he is hungrier for success this season.

“Mentally, I’m fresher, I have more hunger. It is not like before I wasn’t but a change can be good for your mind.

“You have to show the people even more and you have to be ready. The tactics and the managerial skills of Rafa [Benitez] are getting the best from me and that’s one more reason.”