Lazio sign Reina from AC Milan permanently

Bengaluru, August 28: Serie A side Lazio have signed Spanish goalkeeper Pepe Reina from AC Milan on a permanent deal.

The 37-year-old joined Milan in 2018 after a three-year stint at Napoli but made just 13 appearances for the club.

He spent the second half of last season on loan at Premier League club Aston Villa from January, as a cover for injured first-choice keeper Tom Heaton.

"Lazio announces that it has permanently acquired the sports services of Jose Manuel Reina Paez," the club said in a brief statement.

🤩 Primo allenamento in biancoceleste per @PReina25!

📝 Il report della seduta ➡️ https://t.co/LM5BNEt0sr pic.twitter.com/LdWcpIsvuW

— S.S.Lazio (@OfficialSSLazio) August 27, 2020

At Lazio, he is expected to serve as backup to Albanian Thomas Strakosha.

"I'm happy with his arrival, he has incredible experience. He is one of the strongest goalkeepers in history and he will help me improve," Strakosha said.

Riabbracci davvero belli!! 🤗⚽
Inizia un nuovo percorso ricco di sfide e competizioni importanti. PRONTI VIAAA!!! 🧤💪🏼
Grazie per l’accoglienza!! 🦅💙 #CMonEagles pic.twitter.com/qyayprSW9e

— Pepe Reina (@PReina25) August 27, 2020

Lazio had finished fourth in Serie A last season and made the UEFA Champions League cut for the first time in 13 years.

The new Serie A season will start on September 19.

Serie A Points Table

Reina, who won 36 caps for Spain and was part of their 2010 FIFA World Cup-winning squad, where he was as understudy to skipper Iker Casillas.

He spent eight seasons at Liverpool, where he won the Premier League Golden Glove award for most clean sheets in his first three seasons with the club.

In a roller-coaster club career, Reina made 394 appearances for Liverpool before moving to Bundesliga giants Bayern Munich in 2014.

That was followed by spells at Serie A clubs Napoli and AC Milan.

(With inputs from Agencies)