Brendan Rodgers does not expect Pepe Reina to return to Liverpool as the goalkeeper has already written a goodbye letter signalling his intention to leave.

Following the arrival of Simon Mignolet, Reina left Anfield in the summer to join former Reds manager Rafael Benitez at Napoli on a season-long loan.

He had been due to come back to Liverpool at the end of the campaign, but Rodgers has indicated that this is now unlikely because the Spaniard has already got his heart set on a move to the Serie A outfit on a permanent basis.

"He's already written his letter, hasn't he? He wrote a goodbye letter, didn't he?" Rodgers told reporters.

"I was surprised at the letter - when you are a loan player I would expect that he should come back, but obviously Pepe made it very clear when he went to Napoli that he was looking to move.

"He penned a great, big letter saying he was going to work with the best manager that he'd worked with and thanked for his time for Liverpool. So, for me, it probably sounded like he'd made his decision there."

Reina made 394 appearances for Liverpool after signing from Villarreal for £6m in 2005.