London: Liverpool goalkeeper Pepe Reina has played down speculation linking him with a move to La Liga giants Barcelona.
Reina has been in indifferent form for the Reds this campaign and has been linked with a return to Spain, especially given Victor Valdes` decision to see out his contract with the Catalan club and leave next summer.
However, speaking at the presentation of the film Invictus, in which he stars, Reina said: "(A move to Barcelona) is not in my hands and the rumour mongering is part of that.
“They`re such a great club, but I`m happy at Liverpool"
Asked about the future of Spain team-mate Valdes, Reina added: "He`s a friend, I`m going to respect him in everything that he decides. He will have his reasons. He`s not told me anything"
Reina is one of several national team stars to feature in the short film directed by Javier Fesser and is the first Spanish professional footballer to act in a leading role.
The 30-year-old missed Liverpool`s 3-1 defeat to Southampton as he continues his rehab from an ongoing calf problem, but urged the club`s fans to stick with the team when things aren`t going well on the pitch.
"Here, if things are going well or badly, if you give 100% the fans admire you, respect you and love you," the Spaniard told El Mundo.
"It`s important that a team is great, but even more that the fans keep believing in the players when things aren`t going so well."
Spain face Finland on Friday and France next Tuesday in two important World Cup qualifying fixtures, and Reina emphasised the honour that he feels when picked for the national side.
"Everything indicates that I will play, but I won`t change my attitude because Iker [Casillas] isn`t here," he said. "I`m always excited and prepared.
"Not everybody that is called up is lucky enough to play. Only 11 play, but being called up by your country is an honour."
When asked about the current form of Real Madrid goalkeeper Diego Lopez, who was snapped up by Jose Mourinho from Villarreal in January following first-choice goalkeeper Casillas` hand injury, Reina was full of praise for the 31-year-old Spaniard.
"Diego [Lopez] is playing so well; he has been decisive in many games and he is a Real Madrid-quality goalkeeper, without doubt," he said.
"But in the national team it is the manager that makes the decisions."
Reina also spoke about his personal side, insisting that he wants people to value him as a sportsman, and not just for an exuberant personality.
"I`m not the showman. I`m an extrovert and joyful, and I have been lucky enough to be able to celebrate three great titles," he continued.
"I have been one of the most dedicated, but I am one of La Roja`s goalkeepers, not the showman.
"It`s not something that I prepare; I`m like that and whoever knows me knows that. But at the same time I don`t want people to prefer the funny Pepe Reina.
"I want them to value me as a sportsman."
Goal.com
By clicking “Accept All Cookies”, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts.
Cookies Setting
By clicking “Accept All Cookies”, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device and the processing of information obtained via those cookies (including about your preferences, device and online activity) by us and our commercial partners to enhance site navigation, personalise ads, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts. More information can be found in our Cookies and Privacy Policy. You can amend your cookie settings to reject non-essential cookies by clicking Cookie Settings below.
Manage Consent Preferences
Strictly Necessary Cookies
These cookies are necessary for the website to function and cannot be switched off in our systems. They are usually only set in response to actions made by you which amount to a request for services, such as setting your privacy preferences, logging in or filling in forms. You can set your browser to block or alert you about these cookies, but some parts of the site will not then work or you may not be able to login.
Functional Cookies
These cookies enable the website to provide enhanced functionality and personalisation. They may be set by us or by third party providers whose services we have added to our pages. If you do not allow these cookies then some or all of these services may not function properly.
Targeting Cookies
These cookies may be set through our site by our advertising partners. They may be used by those companies to build a profile of your interests and show you relevant adverts on other sites. They are also used to limit the number of times you see an advert as well as help measure the effectiveness of an advertising campaign. They do not store directly personal information, but are based on uniquely identifying your browser and internet device. If you do not allow these cookies, you will experience less targeted advertising.
Performance Cookies
These cookies allow us to count visits and traffic sources so we can measure and improve the performance of our site. They help us to know which pages are the most and least popular and see how visitors move around the site. All information these cookies collect is aggregated and therefore anonymous. If you do not allow these cookies we may not know when you have visited our site, and may not be able to monitor its performance.