Zimpapers Logo

Luis Suarez

LONDON. — Luis Suarez has broken his silence and demanded he be allowed to leave Liverpool after he sensationally accused them of failing to keep a promise.
After a summer of posturing, the Uruguay international has put his cards on the table and informed Liverpool he wants to join a Champions League soccer club, in all likelihood Arsenal, the only team to have bid for him.
Suarez is prepared to submit a written transfer request by the end of the week to achieve his aims, even claiming that he has the support of the PFA and is prepared to call in the English Premier League to arbitrate to get a move to the Emirates Stadium.

The 26-year-old could have joined Juventus last summer but says he stayed out of loyalty to Liverpool and on the understanding that if Liverpool failed to reach the Champions League at the end of Brendan Rodgers’ first season, he would be allowed to leave.

“I gave absolutely everything last season but it was not enough to give us a top-four finish – now all I want is for Liverpool to honour our agreement,” said Suarez.
“I have the club’s word and we have the written contract and we are happy to take this to the Premier League for them to decide the case but I do not want it to come to that.

“I’m 26. I need to be playing in the Champions League. I waited one year and no one can say that I did not give everything possible with my teammates last season to get us there.”

Suarez insists there is a clause in his contract that means Liverpool must sell if a club bids over £40million, which Arsenal did two weeks ago when they offered £40 000 001. Liverpool instantly rejected that but Suarez says they were in the wrong to do so.

“I don’t feel betrayed (by Liverpool) but the club promised me something a year ago just as I promised them that I would stay and try everything possible to get us into the Champions League,” he said.

“They gave me their word a year ago and now I want them to honour that. And it is not just something verbal with the coach but something that is written in the contract. I’m not going to another club to hurt Liverpool.”

John W Henry had made it clear that Liverpool have no intentions of selling Suarez as he reaffirmed Fenway Sports Group’s commitment to the club.
The Uruguay striker missed the friendly in Oslo against Valerenga after he was left out of the 21-man squad that left Liverpool because of a foot problem.

Manager Rodgers had no option but to leave Suarez behind after he was sent in early from training at Melwood Tuesday lunchtime, having struggled to complete a warm up jog and a series of shuttle sprints. He was subsequently sent for a scan.

Suarez had complained of a problem in his foot following an open training session at Anfield on Monday and Rodgers quickly accepted there was no need to persist with running him, as he is not available for the start of the new season.

“Luis picked up an injury in the open training session at Anfield on Monday and along with a number of other players, we decided this game was too much of a risk for him,’ Rodgers said on arrival in Oslo.

“I will tell you what I have been saying about him all summer. He is an incredible player. On the field he is a fighter. He wants to win and he showed that last season. We have had a couple of bids from one club, which has been nowhere near the valuation of what he is worth.

“This is a football club and a city that has stood by him in some of the darkest moments of his career. I have a responsibility to look after all the players.”
Arsenal’s interest, however, is not waning and there is a belief at The Emirates that their pursuit will reach a successful conclusion.

Liverpool have taken a robust stance throughout, with Rodgers adamant that he is not going to leave and Henry, Liverpool’s principal owner and the figurehead of FSG, backed up his manager’s view in Norway on Tuesday night. — Mailonline.