Zimpapers Logo

Luis Suarez

LONDON. — Steven Gerrard has revealed he told Luis Suarez to stay at Liverpool last season as he was too good for Arsenal.
Suarez, who left Anfield for Barcelona earlier this month in a £75 million deal, was linked with a move to Premier League rivals Arsenal last summer after they tabled a £40 million bid for his services.
However, Liverpool managed to keep hold of the Uruguay international and Gerrard has admitted he played a key role in persuading Suarez to snub the overtures of the Gunners.

Gerrard admits he is sad to see Suarez leave Anfield, but holds no grudges against last season’s top scorer for making the move to Spanish giants Barcelona.
“His dream all along from the first day he came was to play for Real Madrid or Barcelona,” said Gerrard

“Last summer when he was out in the cold and training on his own that’s the conversation I had with him. I said, ‘Don’t go to Arsenal’.
“With all due respect to them, I said to him that he was too good for Arsenal.

“I said, ‘If you score 30 goals for us and win the PFA Player of the Year, the press Player of the Year, they (Barca and Madrid) will come back for you”.
“I have experience of those clubs myself and I know if you play well they will come back and come back. So I knew they’d be back for him as well.

“I just thought for his own sake, and to get respect off the Liverpool fans, he had to give us at least one year.”
Gerrard added: “A lot of people might still think he should have given us one more, but that’s the same with most foreigners.
“My big dream was to play for Liverpool, and the foreign players’ big dream is to play for Real Madrid or Barcelona — that’s a fact.

“For me, I would have been really sad and disappointed to see Luis go to Arsenal.
“I’m disappointed to see him leave now, but I am happy for him that he has got what he wants and deserves.

“Since day one he has been phenomenal in training every day and in the games.
“His wife is from Barcelona and I don’t think you can begrudge a player like that who has worked so hard for his dream.

“You can’t go against him when he says he is leaving for Barcelona, but I’d have been disappointed if he had left and gone to Arsenal.”
Meanwhile, Gerrard is yet to discuss a contract extension at Liverpool, but hopes talks will be held in the near future.

The inspirational Anfield skipper has entered the final year of his current deal.
Having spent his entire career with his home-town club, and with unfinished business to attend to in the Premier League title race, Gerrard is determined to ensure that the 2014-15 campaign is not his last on Merseyside.

Brendan Rodgers has admitted that fresh terms will be tabled, with Gerrard still an important part of his plans.
The 34-year-old has announced his retirement from international football in an effort to prolong his domestic career and has made it clear that he is prepared to enter into discussions with Liverpool whenever they are ready.

Gerrard said: “Brendan has mentioned a new deal a couple of times in the media, but no talks have happened.
“I am not trying to call the club out or anything like that. It’s not like that. I’m sure we will talk in the future but we will have to wait and see.

“I hope that I’m here for more than one year, of course I do, but it is all about this season for me.
“I still believe we can be involved in the title race. I believe if we had Luis Suarez, we’d be favourites. We played some incredible stuff last season and we are a very, very good side — don’t forget that.”

While Gerrard remains focused on the present, he has conceded that he could follow the lead of former England colleague Frank Lampard by ending his playing days outside the Premier League.

Lampard has taken the decision to link up with New York City at the end of his Chelsea contract, becoming the latest high-profile player to agree a switch to the MLS.
Asked if a new challenge in the United States might appeal to him further down the line, Gerrard said: “One day that might happen to me, I don’t know.

“I’ve never really discussed it with anyone or thought about it. Maybe one day I would like the chance to go away from Liverpool for a short time and try something different.

“I think Frank has made a great decision. At his age, 36, he’s had a wonderful career and I don’t think he has anything to prove in England any more.
“He’s broken records with Chelsea and won everything with them. I think it’s a perfect move for him.

“But I haven’t given it much thought. That carrot hasn’t been dangled yet.”— Sky Sports.