Former Liverpool goalkeeper Pepe Reina has penned an open letter to fans, explaining his departure from the club.

The 30-year-old said it was not his decision to leave for Napoli.

The Spaniard says he told the club he would consider leaving if an offer came in from Barcelona, as it was a chance to go home.

He said: "If I have one regret, it is the way that I am leaving. It is only natural that I would be disappointed that the Liverpool management agreed to loan me to Napoli without telling me first, I thought that I deserved better than that even though I understand that difficult decisions have to be taken in football. 

A lot has been made about me informing the club that if an offer came in from Barcelona that I would have liked them to consider it. But I had also spoken to the club about the possibility of extending my contract if the offer was not made.
I told the manager that I wanted to play for Liverpool and that Barcelona would only become an option for me if the opportunity arrived, like the rumours said it would, as it would be a chance for me to go back home. When it didn’t come I was happy to fight for my place so I was surprised that Liverpool decided it was in the club´s interests to send me to Napoli instead."

But he says he also expressed a desire to extend his contract at Anfield, and says he would have been happy to stay and fight for his place after the arrival of Simon Mignolet.

Reina added that he was surprised by the decision to send him on loan to the Italian side. But he described the Neapolitans new head coach Rafa Benitez as the best manager he has worked under.