Welshboy Taffy
Inactive User
REINA EMBRACES BRAVE NEW WORLD
The prospect of being part of Liverpool's future and playing in the club's new stadium spurred Jose Reina to sign an improved five-year contract.
The Reds' new owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett will be unveiling their revised plans for the Stanley Park project later this month, with a new ground likely to be completed within three years.
And if Reina, 25, is still with the club by then he will be able to walk out at the new near-70,000 capacity arena.
After confirming his new contract yesterday, the Spain international said: "The new stadium was definitely one of the reasons behind the decision to sign a new contract.
"In an ideal world, we'd like to stay at Anfield but we understand we have to move for a number of reasons.
"I just hope we can have the same atmosphere in the new stadium. I'm so excited at the thought of being part of it."
Manager Rafael Benitez returned from holiday on Thursday to oversee the Reina signing, which follows new deals for Steven Gerrard and Jamie Carragher earlier in the week.
Benitez is also working on new contracts for Xabi Alonso, Mohamed Sissoko and Steve Finnan, as well as trying to complete some of his transfer targets.
But with Barcelona striker Samuel Eto'o - coveted by AC Milan and Chelsea - insisting he wants to stay with the Catalan club, and French winger Florent Malouda now also being chased by Arsenal, any quick big-name move into Anfield is looking unlikely.
Benitez expressed his delight at Reina's new contract, telling the club's website: "We knew we needed to talk with a number of our players and Pepe was one of them.
"He has had two good years with us and, because of his age, we knew we had to sort out a long contract.
"I am really pleased that he has signed and I think it sends out a message to everyone that we are preparing our team for both the present and for the future.
"Pepe's record at Liverpool is very good. He's had a lot of clean sheets and you can see the confidence the defenders have in him. When he plays, the defenders look very comfortable and that is so important.
"I have said before that he's the best goalkeeper in Spain but he's also one of the best in the world.
"In this country, there are a couple of goalkeepers at the very top level and he is one of them."
The prospect of being part of Liverpool's future and playing in the club's new stadium spurred Jose Reina to sign an improved five-year contract.
The Reds' new owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett will be unveiling their revised plans for the Stanley Park project later this month, with a new ground likely to be completed within three years.
And if Reina, 25, is still with the club by then he will be able to walk out at the new near-70,000 capacity arena.
After confirming his new contract yesterday, the Spain international said: "The new stadium was definitely one of the reasons behind the decision to sign a new contract.
"In an ideal world, we'd like to stay at Anfield but we understand we have to move for a number of reasons.
"I just hope we can have the same atmosphere in the new stadium. I'm so excited at the thought of being part of it."
Manager Rafael Benitez returned from holiday on Thursday to oversee the Reina signing, which follows new deals for Steven Gerrard and Jamie Carragher earlier in the week.
Benitez is also working on new contracts for Xabi Alonso, Mohamed Sissoko and Steve Finnan, as well as trying to complete some of his transfer targets.
But with Barcelona striker Samuel Eto'o - coveted by AC Milan and Chelsea - insisting he wants to stay with the Catalan club, and French winger Florent Malouda now also being chased by Arsenal, any quick big-name move into Anfield is looking unlikely.
Benitez expressed his delight at Reina's new contract, telling the club's website: "We knew we needed to talk with a number of our players and Pepe was one of them.
"He has had two good years with us and, because of his age, we knew we had to sort out a long contract.
"I am really pleased that he has signed and I think it sends out a message to everyone that we are preparing our team for both the present and for the future.
"Pepe's record at Liverpool is very good. He's had a lot of clean sheets and you can see the confidence the defenders have in him. When he plays, the defenders look very comfortable and that is so important.
"I have said before that he's the best goalkeeper in Spain but he's also one of the best in the world.
"In this country, there are a couple of goalkeepers at the very top level and he is one of them."