Pepe Reina Iker Casillas David De Gea
“He has to go back and he’ll stay there. We can’t afford Pepe’s wages.” - Rafa Benitez on Pepe Reina Reuters

Napoli boss Rafa Benitez will not hold on to on-loan Liverpool goalkeeper Pepe Reina, after his commitment with the Serie A club will expire this month.

The Spanish international, who is out-of-favour at Anfield, will have to fight for the starting spot upon return, otherwise, he will need to consider moving to another club that can grant him his demands.

"Yes. Pepe has two years left on his contract at Liverpool," the former Reds boss told talkSPORT.

"He has to go back and he'll stay there. We can't afford Pepe's wages."

"The Premier League is a very big league and, in Serie A, we don't pay big wages like in England. He will have to fight for his position at Liverpool."

Reina, 31, who still has a lot of years left in his career as a shot-stopper, is rumoured to be considered by La Liga giants FC Barcelona to provide necessary competition to apparent first-choice Marc-Andre ter Stegen.

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