Lazio goalkeeper Pepe Reina believes Napoli winger Piotr Zielinski is capable of playing at a higher level.

Reina, after a loan spell with Aston Villa last season, left AC Milan this summer for Lazio.

"Zielinski is a player who has really surprised me," Reina told El Larguero. "He is a player of Real Madrid or Barca. He is higher than Serie A."

Asked if he had offers to return to Spain, Reina admits there was nothing concrete.

He added: "Yes, but none came to fruition. The culture in Spain sees a 38-year-old player as much older than he is in Italy. Here respect is different. In Spain they see you as an older player."

Reina also admits he will mentally prepare for when it comes time to retire.

He added: "When I have it very clear and I have six or seven months left I will use someone to help me. I want to prepare myself psychologically for what comes.

"You have to be prepared for when in the morning you stop going into a sports center."