by maypaxvobiscum » Tue Feb 18, 2014 11:00 am
Napoli goalkeeper Pepe Reina hopes he will return to the Serie A club next season, although it is not yet clear whether he will be welcomed back.
The Spaniard is on loan from Liverpool until the end of the season, but the Azzurri are not taking it for granted that the 31-year-old will return to them and they have already taken Catania custodian Mariano Andujar under contract from July.
Furthermore, 23-year-old Brazilian goalkeeper Rafael has proven to be a reliable deputy for Reina, who has not been spared the Napoli fans' criticism during a recent dip in form.
And according to Sky Sport, Napoli are considering an approach for Hannover's Germany international Ron-Robert Zieler -- although Reina says he would be keen on another season in Naples.
"I'm very happy here and my family's happy too," he told Piuenne television. "I'll be here right to the end, but not even I know what will happen after. I'm here now, but I've got to return to Liverpool, although it's unlikely I'll stay there."
As long as compatriot Rafael Benitez is in charge, he expects he will be wanted again in 2014-15.
"Benitez was the most important figure in me arriving here," Reina said. "He convinced me to join this ambitious project at a great club. Obviously I also wanted to get to know a different league while it was Liverpool who took the first step by not wanting me anymore because they were placing their faith in a younger goalkeeper."
Before Reina does leave -- whether he returns or not -- he is keen on crowning the season with some silverware. Napoli have reached the final of the Coppa Italia, where they will face Fiorentina in May, while they are into the last 32 of the Europa League and not yet entirely out of the hunt in Serie A.
"We need to take things game by game, fighting on all fronts," said the Spaniard. "Roma and Juve are not giving an inch, but now we're thinking about Europe. Thirteen points is a long way to be behind Juve, but we've always got to think positively, regardless of them.
"It's unlikely that they slip up now considering the pace they've sustained thus far, but it's up to us to do the impossible. We play every competition to win it. Now we're in the final [of the Coppa Italia], we want to win it, but we also know that Fiorentina are a great side.
"We've taken the first step, playing well against Roma and deserving to win and I'm delighted that we're now so close to winning."