LIVERPOOL goalkeeper Pepe Reina has revealed that the club’s previous owners stopped him from joining Arsenal for £20million.

The Spaniard, who is now settled again under Kenny Dalglish’s stewardship, almost quit Anfield three times but was prevented from sealing his big money move to the Gunners after asking for permission to talk to Arsene Wenger because the deal could have scuppered the sale of the club.

Reina, 29, who joined a Liverpool side who had just been crowned European champions from Villarreal in 2005 was dismayed with their decline both on and off the field under their previous American owners and first considered a return to La Liga when Valencia came calling, only to be talked out of a move by Rafael Benitez.

However, Reina was ready to call time on his Liverpool career after returning home from Spain’s triumphant 2010 World Cup campaign.

By the time Reina was back on Merseyside, Benitez had been sacked and the running of the club was in the hands of managing director Christian Purslow who was searching for new owners.

Reina, speaking in his new autobiography, said: “I went from elation one minute to depression the next as the realisation dawned that Liverpool were going nowhere fast.

“When I signed my contract in April 2010 I hoped that better times were just around the corner, a feeling that was fuelled by the promises of improvement from people at the club.

“It didn’t take me long to feel that their promises were hollow. I felt betrayed.

“Our owners were at war with each other, the club’s debts were spiralling out of control and a change in manager had failed to dispel the feeling that we were on the road to nowhere.”