5 Goalkeepers In Line To Replace Victor Valdes At Barcelona

5. Pepe Reina

By far the favourite for some time now, the Napoli goalkeeper has long been rumoured with a return to the club where he began his career 25 years ago as a budding youngster. This Blaugrana DNA would be one of the major reasons the club's hierarchy could go for him, with the Spain international impressing so far in his loan spell at the Serie A side. Having been pushed out of Liverpool by the arrival of Simon Mignolet, the Spaniard decided to look for guaranteed first team football, and his old Reds boss Rafa Benitez was only too happy to oblige, giving Reina the chance he needed to push his way into a well-stocked Spain squad for next years World Cup. The ability to play, 'the Spanish way,' would no doubt also act as a plus in the decision making of Barca officials, but at 31-years-old, Reina does not really present a long term solution to Valdes' departure, and there have even been suggestions that he could be brought into the side as reserve keeper. The fact that the club's current backup, Native American impersonator Jose Manuel Pinto has just celebrated his 38th birthday backs up this school of thought, and Reina's return to the Camp Nou could be as unproductive as his first stint.
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Began writing about football aged 16, I've previously worked for Goal and I'm currently writing for Inside Spanish Football. Specialise in anything linked, connected with or involving football!