Pepe Reina - A Letter to the Liverpool Supporters

Pepe Reina, club servant and legend not even told that he was getting loaned out and it wasn't his decsion to leave.

Goodbye letter for Liverpool’s fans: “Thanks for everything, I will see you soon”

It is a strange feeling for me to think that next season I will not be a Liverpool player. For the past eight years, that is all I have known. The club, the staff, the city, the people and the supporters have played a massive part in my life. Liverpool is special in a way that only those who are lucky enough to experience the club close up can understand. It has given me memories that will live with me forever and friendships that will last just as long.

But more than anything else, it has given me an understanding of what it is like to play for the most wonderful English club. I may not have won as many trophies and medals as I would have liked since joining in 2005 but the experiences I have been a part of are as important as any silverware. I now understand how supporters can lift a team and inspire them to do special things. I appreciate that there is something unique about Anfield and the atmosphere it creates. I believe that anything is possible no matter what the situation is because at Liverpool there is no such thing as a lost cause. And I have been humbled by the fight for justice for the 96 which showed me that the Liverpool people will always fight for what they believe in.

I know that I have been blessed to be part of a Club like that and I hope that in return I have always given my best and represented Liverpool in the right way. There have been good times and bad times but no matter what the situation has been I hope that my passion has been clear. I have been asked what my favourite Liverpool moment was and if I had to pick one it wouldn’t be a save or winning a trophy. It would be my celebration against Manchester United when David Ngog scored a late goal. That is probably the quickest I have ever run in my life! It shows what playing for Liverpool meant to me and also that there was nothing better than winning a big game at Anfield. I used to look at the Kop when we scored those kind of goals in big games and I would be jealous of the supporters going crazy. If the closest I will get to that is running the length of the pitch and jumping on my team mates backs then that will do for me.

Obviously, I won’t be able to do that next season but I hope that the supporters and my team mates will be able to enjoy many more moments like that. They deserve the best of times and it would give me so much pleasure to see Liverpool back where they belong, challenging for trophies and getting back into the top four. That was where the club was when I first arrived and although I am leaving a different club, one with new owners, a new manager, new players and new challenges, I honestly believe that Liverpool can reach those levels again.

I am disappointed that I will not be part of that and although it was not my decision to leave I will accept it just like I have always accepted any decision that Liverpool have taken for me. They signed me, picked me, gave me some of the best experiences of my life and looked after me. If they feel that the best thing for me and for them is for me to go on loan to Napoli for a season then so be it. Napoli is a new challenge for me and I know that the fans are just as passionate about their team as the Liverpool fans, so I am really looking forward to playing for them this season and I will give my all.

But if I have one regret, it is the way that I am leaving. It is only natural that I would be disappointed that the Liverpool management agreed to loan me to Napoli without telling me first, I thought that I deserved better than that even though I understand that difficult decisions have to be taken in football. A lot has been made about me informing the club that if an offer came in from Barcelona that I would have liked them to consider it. But I had also spoken to the club about the possibility of extending my contract if the offer was not made. I told the manager that I wanted to play for Liverpool and that Barcelona would only become an option for me if the opportunity arrived, like the rumours said it would, as it would be a chance for me to go back home. When it didn’t come I was happy to fight for my place so I was surprised that Liverpool decided it was in the club´s interests to send me to Napoli instead.

None of this will change my feelings for the club or the people in any way and now I have to look forward to a new challenge with Rafa Benitez, who I consider to be the best manager I have worked with, and I am fortunate to be going from one great club to another. Napoli remind me in many ways of the Liverpool I found in 2005, in all the affection they have shown me on my arrival, in having an ambitious project, even in coinciding and working with Benitez again…This memory which in part unites me with you, makes me happy and feel very motivated to begin this new project.

This is my chance to say thank you to everyone for everything that you have given to me and to my family. My children consider Liverpool to be their home and hopefully their love for the city and also for the club will only grow while we are away. I would have liked to have been able to say goodbye in a different way but because of the way the move came about this was not possible.

Maybe in the near future I can do it properly so that I can show my appreciation to you but all I would ask now is that you keep on inspiring the manager and the players just like you always have done and help Liverpool to become the club that you deserve once again. I would like nothing better than to come back at the end of my year away and for Liverpool to be back where they belong.

Thank you for everything. Good luck. I will see you soon.

Pepe Reina.

Andy Heaton ‏@Andrew_Heaton Time to put it to bed, but maybe next time the time the club tell you the sky is blue it might be an idea to look out the window and check.

Disgusting treatment for someone who has given a lot for this club. Not that that's new territory for our owners.

Thank you for everything Pepe, id love to see you back next season you deserved better than this.

What a fooking legend.  Anyone who ever doubts about the LEGEND status being used, read the letter.

Putting other players to shame.

Wow! That is emotional.

Pepe deserved to be treated with the utmost respect from our management,without a doubt he put this club first and will be remembered for many years for his professionalism.Thank you Pepe you will always be fondly remembered at Anfield by the supporters if not by our management.

Big up to pepe , he has Liverpool in his heart . Thank for giving your all for us

Ynwa

absolute legend

gutted to see him go and dont think its the right move

not surprised about how its all unfolding at the club it all.

Says it all about the man that hed even consider coming back after the way he was treated

Terrible way to treat him.

He deserved to be in goal for the testimonial next week

Just makes me feel like this is more and more like Rodgers decision and in those decisions, we back the manager.

Brendan Rodgers said something along the lines of "Pepe Reina's human qualities are second to none, he's been absolutely brilliant since I came in. He's a world class keeper but above all that he's a world class guy."

Well Brendan if that's how you choose to treat your world class players and your world class human beings, you've just dropped a peg or two in my estimation. What's with the current trend of treating legends such as Pepe and Kenny like dirt under their shoes, F***ing disgusted with this.

That's disgraceful treatment. Not happy with all these stories of players being used as commodities and that is all they're seen as by the club. Pepe is a legend and deserved utmost respect, not to be farmed out.

Good luck Pepe. We love you mate. All the best in Napoli with Rafa and hope we see you again very soon.

YNWA.

Club legend - but pro sport is a brutal business.

And, brutally, he has not been a 110k pw keeper for the past three seasons for us.

This club doesn't surprise me at all at times, Brendan Rogers going on about marquee signings! Quoting us as a football family whilst on tour and then goes and treats Reina in that way .

I'm glad Pepe has said it like it is. At least we know now that we didn't need to spend so much on a new keeper.

Brendan Rodgers said something along the lines of "Pepe Reina's human qualities are second to none, he's been absolutely brilliant since I came in. He's a world class keeper but above all that he's a world class guy."

Well Brendan if that's how you choose to treat your world class players and your world class human beings, you've just dropped a peg or two in my estimation. What's with the current trend of treating legends such as Pepe and Kenny like dirt under their shoes, f**king disgusted with this.

Wages, that's all.

Few ITKs saying Glen Johnson is next, wouldn't surprise me.

But if I have one regret, it is the way that I am leaving. It is only natural that I would be disappointed that the Liverpool management agreed to loan me to Napoli without telling me first, I thought that I deserved better than that even though I understand that difficult decisions have to be taken in football. A lot has been made about me informing the club that if an offer came in from Barcelona that I would have liked them to consider it. But I had also spoken to the club about the possibility of extending my contract if the offer was not made. I told the manager that I wanted to play for Liverpool and that Barcelona would only become an option for me if the opportunity arrived, like the rumours said it would, as it would be a chance for me to go back home. When it didn’t come I was happy to fight for my place so I was surprised that Liverpool decided it was in the club´s interests to send me to Napoli instead.

World class player and world class guy hey Brendan?

Is the letter on the offal?

A sad end to a great career, good luck in Naples ya big baldy b***ard

We had one of the world's best keepers wanting to extend his contract with us and instead he's shipped out on loan. Disgusting treatment of a true legend.

 Good luck to Pepe, and it looks like a decision made by the manager. Not only that, but I've a hunch it's a very good decision made by the manager. I back him in this one absolutely 100%.

Good luck to Pepe, and it looks like a decision made by the manager. Not only that, but I've a hunch it's a very good decision made by the manager. I back him in this one absolutely 100%.

Mick I don't think the problem is with the decision to loan Pepe to Napoli,it is the way it was handled.When a player has served the club well he deserved better treatment from our management.

Wages, that's all.

Few ITKs saying Glen Johnson is next, wouldn't surprise me.

World class player and world class guy hey Brendan?

Is the letter on the offal?

Not that I can see mate.

8 years loyal service, set many club records, become an adopted scouser and not even the manners to discuss the move with him. I wont believe another word Brendan Rodgers says, it's as simple as that.

For me he's let the ethos of the club down with that revelation, forget success at all costs and you have to make ruthless decisions but we're better than that. That is simply disrespectful to someone who has earned respect time and again.

Club legend - but pro sport is a brutal business.

And, brutally, he has not been a 110k pw keeper for the past three seasons for us.

world class person world class keeper world cup winner 2nd golden glove last year in what was an 'off' year

110k sounds like good value to me tbh Not sure how much you think world class keepers earn but not 30k

Lets have a look Casillas, Buffon, hart, cech all paid over 6m each year(take home for buffon and casillas)

Unless you think we dont need a world class keeper for some reason.. like loaning pepe to save wages to reinforce areas where we need more quality because that hasnt happened either.. thanks fsg

Ps Reina agreed his latest contract when we had no CL at the time so not accepting  we dont have the money now sh*te.. not having it

Just makes me reel like this is more and more like Rodgers decision and in those decisions, we back the manager.

See Rodders I think that it's more the owners and the balance sheet than Rodgers and to be clear I've been very open minded about them this whole time and hoping for the best.

I think in one of his many interviews this summer the gaffer first said that when we singed Mignolet it was for competition in the squad, than it turned out it was to ensure we have a promising good keeper in case Barcelona came in for Pepe, which was almost done till their keeper decided to stay in one more year, so we were left with both Pepe and Mignolet to which Rodgers said great, two great player for one spot wonderful, and I really think he meant that and I presume it's when the owners came in waving balace sheets, wages, cutting costs and wanted to get him off the list. Again this is all my view, my presumptions.

I was mad when all this started, now I'm just heartbroken. 

It may very well turn out to be a good decision, time will tell. What is absolutely appalling is the way Pepe has been treated. To not even have the good grace to speak to him about this, is a disgusting way to treat a loyal servant of this club.
It seems we expect players to show loyalty to us, but we do not offer the same in return. Double standards or what!
What was that you said about 'football family' Brendan, words, just words.

Not that I can see mate.

8 years loyal service, set many club records, become an adopted scouser and not even the manners to discuss the move with him. I wont believe another word Brendan Rodgers says, it's as simple as that.

For me he's let the ethos of the club down with that revelation, forget success at all costs and you have to make ruthless decisions but we're better than that. That is simply disrespectful to someone who has earned respect time and again.

 Ah. It's another stick to add to the golf bag marked "stuff to beat the manager with", I never realised.