FORMER Liverpool legend Pepe Reina is continuing his lengthy career at the age of 41.
Despite making just two league appearances for Spanish outfit Villarreal last season, Reina has found himself a new home for the upcoming campaign.
Reina, whose career has seen him play for an enviable list of European heavyweights, has penned a one-year deal with Serie A newcomers Como.
The Italian club, who were promoted from Serie B last term, are managed by Reina’s former Spain teammate and fellow Premier League hero Cesc Fabregas.
Fabregas and Reina were both part of Vicente del Bosque’s 2010 World Cup winning squad.
And Reina will now play under his former teammate in Italy, returning to Serie A for a third time.
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Speaking on his arrival at Como, Reina said: “I arrive in a beautiful project, a family that continues to grow and tries to raise the bar every year.
“I return to a league that I know well and that I know is very competitive, for my part I want to give my contribution to the development of this club”.
While boss Fabregas, who is four years Reina’s junior, added: “We are thrilled to welcome Pepe to the club.
“He is a goalkeeper with great international experience and a very competitive mentality.
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“For these reasons, I am sure that his contribution will help the team to grow and improve.”
Reina earned 36 caps for Spain throughout his career, which started at Barcelona, before moving to Villarreal in 2002.
After three years he signed for Liverpool to succeed former Reds icon Jerzy Dudek as No1.
He spent the last of his nine years at Liverpool on loan at Napoli in Serie A, before making a permanent exit to Bayern Munich in 2014.
Following a season as Manuel Neuer’s understudy he rejoined Napoli and went on to spend a further three years there.
In 2018, he joined AC Milan for a two-year stint, and even returned to the Premier League with Aston Villa on loan from the Italian giants.
Two years with Lazio followed, before he finally rejoined Villarreal.
Reina’s trophy cabinet includes the FA Cup, League Cup, Bundesliga, two European Championships and the World Cup.
He now joins Como who are a team on the rise after a takeover in 2019.
The Lake Como based club have since risen from the fourth division of Italian football to Serie A.
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While they have done it with a whole host of football legends on board with Fabregas, Thierry Henry and Dennis Wise all minority owners of the club.
And their squad is also slowly filling up with superstars with Reina joining the likes of Andrea Belotti and former Wolves striker Patrick Cutrone.
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Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
