Pepe Reina: 'I was willing to sign new Liverpool contract'

Pepe Reina has admitted that he considered signing a new contract at Liverpool before the club decided to loan him out to Napoli.

The goalkeeper has agreed to join his former manager Rafael Benitez in Italy on a season-long loan deal following the arrival of Simon Mignolet on Merseyside.

"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," Reina wrote in an open letter to Liverpool fans. "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."

Reina signed for Liverpool in 2005 from Villarreal.