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Reina set to join Bayern

Dave RaishAugust 5, 2014

Spanish goalkeeper Pepe Reina is set to join Bayern Munich from Liverpool. With Manuel Neuer already firmly established between the Bayern posts, Reina looks likely to become one of football's most high-profile backups.

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Torwart Pepe Reina
Image: Getty Images

Bayern President Karl-Heinz Rummenigge confirmed on the German champions' website late Tuesday that Reina was set to officially join the club in the coming days following a medical in the Bavarian capital.

Reina "really wanted to come to Bayern Munich," said Rummenigge. "He wanted to go on this adventure, although he knows that Manuel Neuer is the number one ahead of him and, if nothing happens, will remain the number one."

Spanish newspaper Marca reported the fee for the 31-year-old goalkeeper as being some 3 million euros ($4 million), with a contract running until 2017.

Reina came up through the Barcelona system but established himself as a top-flight keeper with Villareal. He moved to Rafa Benitez's Liverpool in 2005, making 285 Premier League appearances in eight seasons at the Merseyside club.

Fußball WM 2014 Australien gegen Spanien
Reina was a part of Spain's less-than-memorable 2014 World Cup squadImage: Reuters

The arrival of Belgian goalkeeper Simon Mignolet last summer appeared to spell the end of Reina's much-lauded time at Liverpool. He spent the previous season on loan at Serie A club Napoli, where he won the Copa Italia.

Reina has been capped 33 times for Spain, and was a member of the squads that won the 2010 World Cup and 2008 and 2012 European Championships. He spent nearly all of his international career as backup to Real Madrid's Iker Casillas, but was nonetheless viewed as an important locker-room presence in the team.

"Pepe Reina is an established, very experienced player who fits the management's requirements," said Rummenigge.

The departure of youngster Lukas Raede this summer meant that aside from Neuer, the only other keeper on Bayern's roster was veteran deputy Tom Starke.

"It was our goal to do something about this position in order to be prepared for any eventuality," said Rummenigge. "The goalkeeper issue is finished. We're heading into the season with these three goalkeepers."