Liverpool hero flirts: To play for Barca would be a “privilege”

Liverpool goalkeeper Pepe Reina has admitted his pleasure at being linked with a summer move to Barcelona, report Sky Sports.

Reina is currently on-loan to Napoli with former boss Rafael Benitez after falling out of favour at Liverpool following a string of poor performances and mistakes.

Simon Mignolet was signed from Sunderland by Brendan Rodgers in the summer transfer window which meant the end to Reina’s stay on Merseyside.

He is expected to leave the club next summer with Barcelona high up on his wish list, and vice-versa.

“I would love to return to Barcelona,” Reina said. “To play at Barca is a privilege. But I imagine that my name is on a list with others.

“Barca is a top club and Victor Valdes’ departure will have alerted other candidates so a return will be very difficult. Right now I’m not thinking about it.

“I was fortunate to play there once and I consider myself privileged to have done that. The important thing is that I continue to do well at Napoli.”

Reina has three years left on his Liverpool contract but is unlikely to feature again for the Reds due to Mignolet’s arrival and subsequent superb performances.

Barcelona are on the lookout for a new goalkeeper after Victor Valdes revealed earlier this year that he will not renew his contract with the Spanish giants that runs out in the summer.

Reina has kept five clean sheets in 14 Serie A matches this season and has a claim success rate of 98%.