Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers has revealed that goalkeeper Pepe Reina is joining Napoli on a season-long loan with the Reds keen to save money on his wages.
The Spaniard, who has three years remaining on his £110,000-a-week contract at Anfield, is due to complete his move to Napoli next week, bringing an end to his eight-year spell with the Merseyside outfit.
Rodgers has signed Sunderland goalkeeper Simon Mignolet for £9 million and said he could not justify paying Reina's massive wages in order to sit on the bench.
"Financially it is something we needed to look at," Rodgers told the Liverpool Echo.
"That would be the reason because obviously you wouldn't move on a top goalkeeper.
"It reared its head over the last few months and I had to prepare for it by bringing in a new goalkeeper.
"Pepe is a good guy. I've a lot of time for him, and he understands what I want to do totally.
"He's got a big season ahead because it's a World Cup year and one where, if he wasn't going to be playing, could severely harm his chances of going."
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| Pepe Reina will be reunited with former Liverpool manager Rafa Benítez at Napoli Photo: Getty Images |
The Spaniard, who has three years remaining on his £110,000-a-week contract at Anfield, is due to complete his move to Napoli next week, bringing an end to his eight-year spell with the Merseyside outfit.
Rodgers has signed Sunderland goalkeeper Simon Mignolet for £9 million and said he could not justify paying Reina's massive wages in order to sit on the bench.
"Financially it is something we needed to look at," Rodgers told the Liverpool Echo.
"That would be the reason because obviously you wouldn't move on a top goalkeeper.
"It reared its head over the last few months and I had to prepare for it by bringing in a new goalkeeper.
"Pepe is a good guy. I've a lot of time for him, and he understands what I want to do totally.
"He's got a big season ahead because it's a World Cup year and one where, if he wasn't going to be playing, could severely harm his chances of going."
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