July 29, 2013 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.
He's a top, top bloke. But in a way this upsets me, we cry and moan for the best players to be loyal to the club, and embrace what the club is about. But it's sad times when the management doesn't repay them and not be loyal to the players. It goes both ways for me, Reina hasn't been at his best for the past two seasons, but every player deserves to be treated with a certain respect, whether it be Downing or Reina. It's not excusable. I wish him all the best and thanks for all the memory's Pepe.
I hear what you're saying Magic but personally, I think the club did the right thing. Reina was set to leave as he and the club were expecting Barca to make the bid. He wanted to leave. So we were proactive in signing a replacement. It's a shame it didn't work out for Reina but it's as if he wanted the best of both worlds - tell LFC that he wanted to leave for Barca or sign a new contract if they didn't. We can't afford to work like that.
I don't blame the club for signing Mignolet. But I can only go off what both the club and Reina have said. And if it's true they agreed a loan deal without even alerting Pepe it's a pretty shoddy way of treating some one who's been as loyal as he has to the club. I see it a lot "If a bid comes in for £20m for Agger bite their hands off". I don't agree with that at all, it's a rare thing in football for great players to be loyal to the club and love the club, and want to be at this club. If we can't be loyal to the players then we shouldn't expect anything back. Opened up a can of worms. Have a good day!
I'm mixed to be honest. No matter what way Reina stated his intentions the club should have told him their plans before announcing the loan deal. Players can be underhand but the club should behave better. On the Barca thing. I think Reina worded that very carefully to put him in a nicer light. He informed management that it would become an "option" if Barca came looking? Well they did: It was only Valdes doing a u-turn that stopped that happening and it's only delayed by a year. To somehow suggest the club should only plan based on actual offers rather than "intentions" is a bizarre way to look at it. On that basis our management can not be reactive & must be proactive. I'm not slagging Reina for wanting to play for Barca but it is a significant change in language to "I want to stay at LFC for 5 more years " back in 2011. The club can not plan a way forward with players who have other "options" in mind. You either think this is your no 1 club or you don't. We only make the latter our priority in planning. What a players done for us in the past should have no bearing on that planning. And it's interesting that its "goodbye" he softens this at the end talking about a return but unless he has a shocking year at Napoli he's going to Barca. The direct insult to BR about Rafa being the best manager he's worked with? Well if he thinks BR has treated him shabbily, that's understandable to get that dig in but it also suggests it may be a deeper issue there. The speed BR got rid suggests he has little tolerance for players not being 100% committed to our club. Something I agree with. But thank you for all your efforts for our club P. and I genuinely hope he has a cracking final phase to his career.
I wonder whether Suarez has read that. Pepe is a legend and I will always be very thankful we had him for so long. All the best la
i just want to make one comment here. pepe is 30 not 40. final pahse? the guy is just coming to his prime... goalkeepers like Freidal and VDS, buffon and others all point to this. I'm frankly amazed at reading this from pepe as its a pretty damning break with the clubs management and him giving a very clear message to supporters.
I didn't mean he was decrepit; I meant if he gets his wish, he'll be at the club he wants to be at in a year. And it's likely he'll want to finish his career there: final phase. Hope he gets what he wants and that he finishes his career on a high. Don't see an issue with that. Other than that? As I say, it's a clear statement of his version. Only damning part of that statement is the club not including them in their plans regarding the loan which as I said is not great behaviour. As theres no proof of deeper rifts between them then the club keeping him out of the loop is out of order. No player should be treated like that, length of service is irrelevant, simple manners & courtesy. As for actually getting rid, nothing contemptible about that in my view. Players not 100% committed can't expect to be the clubs priority. Management will live or die by this type of decision. But that's their job. Rather a bold manager than a timid one dictated to by the whims of individual players with their own set of priorities. Onwards.
Maybe he will. And maybe it would be 2the final phase then" I found it interesting that when i went looking for this i actually found it on the echo form pepes own website as the club would not post it on the offical one. Again i want to point to what i said were ies and got pilloried for saying so. Rodgers said TWICE pepe was fine with mingolet coming and would fight for his place and so forth.... and ok you might say according to pepe he was in fact saying the truth BUT all the while they were plotting the players exit. They jumped all over napoli when they tried to buy reina and shoved him out on loan. So on one hand you can say stuff and on the other plot against the player who's one of your best. You are right managment will live and die by this... get it right and great you've a better keeper but even in getting it right you've maybe caused a whole ripple of people thinking twice... maybe i won't but that jersey to hey I will go after all in suarez case to hmmm maybe i shouldn't go there in someone else's case like mkhitaryan. In other words mayeb you are right in one context that mingolet is better and i'll back any footballing decision made but I just want to make it clear i STILL find this shambolic, crazy and now i had underhand too the list.
It's a pity he is going but it was clear that we could not keep both Mingolet and Reina happy, Reina is still at the top of his game and Mingolet at the point in his career where he needs to play and develop into a class keeper like Reina. I think it's the right decision to make Mingolet first choice he's going to be our keeper for many years just as Reina has been. The only part that confuses me is the loan, why not sell and invest in the squad?
Its still a damn shame that he will not be playing for us regardless of what the politics are within the club... He is a better keeper than Mignolet....
All this sentimental stuff is fine but lets look at facts here 1, Reina has not been anywhere near his level for a couple of seasons, mind has looked elsewhere 2, Reinas really hurt and wanted to sign a new contract, unless Barca came in for him. Sorry we cant carry on like that 3, Mingolet was bought in as reina was going to go, when he didnt we cant send Mingolet back as we kept the receipt Bit sneaky if true about agreeing with Napoli without him knowing if, true............he couldve turned it down and fought for his place no? If Barca came he'd have been off like a shot All in all im quite pleased we have managed to swap keepers. The thing im pissed about is I thought we'd finally pushed Jones out of the No 2 slot!
Another summer transfer **** up IMO. Strengthening a position we didn't need to this year and reducing the budget whilst magically reducing Reinas value at the same time. Whether Pepe had a move to Barca lined up or not he's been a good servant and is still a class act (Rafa must be rubbing his hands together). You can't beg for loyalty from Suarez on one hand then treat a player who has been loyal like a piece of meat. It makes it worse to do it to one of the most popular players at the club. Shoddy stuff yet again LFC. Great letter and thanks for the memories Pepe. Best keeper at Anfield for many many years Say hello to Rafa for us.
1. actually his improvement over the course of last year put his level right back up there , IMO of course 2. I don't really have an issue with this part. If the club felt it had to move on something to protect itself that is fine. the issue is how they did it and how it looks now. 3. There are a few points here. first pre-empting the bid from barca that never came. second we could buy and loan back if we really wanted, third we could have agreed the fee then waited for barca and not completed. finally you could have let it run The thing is rodgers keeps saying pepe would not have played. In the end a "bit Sneaky" is not a good rep for a club is it?
Don't agree with any of that. Reina's form returned last season. That's how football works and the club always knew his desire to retire to Spain. We signed Mignolet 2-3 weeks after Valdes told Barce he was staying.
Oh I agree MITO, I could sit and say it was an attempt by BR to justify having the two when he'd thought Reina would be gone and then Napoli came in and he bit their arm off but his painting a rosey picture of it turns it into a contradiction. It turns a bold decision to replace a great keeper and makes it seem panicky & shambolic when it was at least an attempt to stay ahead of events. You've said before can they not just keep their mouths shut, particularly BR and I actually agree. Until something's concrete say nowt! If he had, BR could say he said nothing until all was in place. He'd look in control, ruthless yes but at least in control. His mouth ruins what I think is a right move for the right reasons. I know others think we should have kept him for that year or sold him and it could prove true. At worst if Ming is dire & collapses Rogers will have to go crawling on hands & knees to Reina. For our teams sake I hope it's the right move.
yup my central point. I've no issue with choosing one player over another. thats football.... but i think they handled it badly and a loan smacks of desperation to clear wages.
