Brendan confirms Reina loan deal

LOAN DEAL ... Pepe Reina is heading to Serie A for the season

BRENDAN RODGERS has confirmed Liverpool keeper Pepe Reina is heading to Napoli on loan.

The Italian club, managed by former Reds boss Rafael Benitez, made an approach for the Spain international last week.

And Liverpool have agreed to let Reina, 30, leave following the arrival of Simon Mignolet from Sunderland for £9million.

Liverpool manager Rodgers said: "It was obviously a difficult decision.

“From last season, really, I was led to believe that we were going to get an offer for Pepe that would probably see him leave the club.

“On the football side, we have to protect the team and at that stage we started our search for another goalkeeper.

“That found us Simon Mignolet, who’s top class — one of the top young European goalkeepers.

“As events transpired, that move [for Reina] didn’t happen and it left us with two very good goalkeepers. Both would have been fighting for the No1 position.

“Then obviously an opportunity arose for Pepe and it was one we felt as a football club was best for him to take.

“As a senior goalkeeper, he needs to be playing. It’s a very important year for him with the World Cup next year.

“It wouldn’t have served any purpose, both for the club and him personally, if he’d been the one missing out.

“It’s decided he will go to Napoli and we’ve got two very good goalkeepers still at the football club.

“We’ll review it after the loan finishes.”

Reina, who joined Liverpool in 2005, had also been linked with a move to Barcelona, where he came through the youth ranks.

He has made 285 appearances for the Reds and won the Premier League Golden Glove award in his first three seasons at the club.