We often wonder what footballers like to do in their free time.
Some like to play video games, others prefer to engage in academic pursuits. Others just like to relax with family and friends.
Former Liverpool goalkeeper Pepe Reina, however, can now add the role of a giant penguin on television to his hobby list.
Let us explain …
Reina appeared in the Spanish version of The Masked Singer reality singing contest on Wednesday night, serenading a panel of famous guests with her rendition of Hola, Mi Amor, a traditional Spanish tune.
The singing show instructs the jury to correctly guess the identity of the singer in disguise.
While some panelists believed it was former Barcelona and Spain midfielder Andres Iniesta, comedian Jose Mota was in song with his prediction that it was Reina.
“I seriously wonder if the next step is Eurovision! Reina said on Twitter.
“It was a great pleasure to participate in @ MaskSingerA3! I had a great time. Greetings from your flamingo penguin.”
While you’d be forgiven for thinking Reina hung up his gloves to build his career as an artist, the 38-year-old still plays for Lazio, whom he joined from AC Milan in 2020 after a brief loan spell at Aston. Villa .
Reina isn’t the first footballer to appear in The Masked Singer, of course. In January, former Tottenham midfielder and England manager Glenn Hoddle was revealed as a grandfather clock on the UK version.
And who could forget the turn of former Tottenham and Manchester United striker Teddy Sheringham as a giant tree in 2020? We certainly haven’t been able to shake that particular image.
So there you have it … Pepe Reina: World Cup winning goalie and singing penguin. That sounds good.
