Napoli winger Dries Mertens has urged Liverpool goalkeeper Pepe Reina to return to the Serie A club.
The Spain shot-stopper, who played in his national side’s final World Cup game against Australia yesterday before heading home, spent the 2013-14 campaign on loan in Naples under the guidance of compatriot Rafael Benitez.
He played some of his best football under his fellow countryman when Benitez was at the Anfield helm and they were reunited in Italy last term, but he now returns to Merseyside following the expiration of his loan deal and an unsuccessful World Cup in Brazil.
Spain crashed out at the group stage following back-to-back defeats at the hands of Holland and Chile.
Belgium winger Mertens, who remains in the competition with his side, wants the 31-year-old to renew acquaintances with Napoli during the summer transfer window and took to social media site Twitter to contact his former colleague.
After seeing Reina keep a clean sheet in the 3-0 consolation win against Australia he said: “Good game Pepe, congratulations! Now make me happy and begin to negotiate the new contract with Napoli.”
Reina has two years remaining on his contract at Anfield but is behind Simon Mignolet in the pecking order and is widely-expected to leave in the coming weeks.