Negotiations between Barcelona and Liverpool will begin this week over the potential transfer of Luis Suarez. The Uruguayan, who faces a four month ban from football for biting Giorgio Chiellini during the World Cup, is likely to cost Barca in the region of £60m.
Suarez issued an apology for the incident on Monday, and key figures at Barcelona have been quick to praise the striker for his humility.
“He plays for a rival team,” said President Josep Bartomeu. “But what I can say, as a football person, is that apologising has been to his credit, because when you make a mistake you should apologise.
“It is good what he has done, because it helps football. It is the responsibility of all of us that Luis Suarez, at Liverpool or wherever he wants to be, continues his career. To admit errors is an important step.”
Sporting Director Andoni Zubizarreta, speaking at the unveiling of Croatian midfielder Ivan Rakitic, also had kind words to say about the troublesome striker.
“Suarez has shown he is humble enough to admit an error, which is very important. Everyone knows Luis is an excellent player, everyone knows last season he played in various positions in attack, but everyone also knows he is a Liverpool player.”
The clubs will begin negotiations this week in an attempt to lure Suarez away from Anfield and to the Nou Camp, with Liverpool hoping to receive £80m for the striker. Barca are likely to make a bid of around £60m, but that figure could be totally dependent on whether Alexis Sanchez is included, with the Chilean being heavily linked with a move away.
Suarez was named PFA Player of the Year in the Premier League last year, scoring 31 goals as Liverpool narrowly missed out on the Premier League title. Despite qualifying for the Champions League, Suarez could be set to join Neymar and Messi in La Liga if talks between the two clubs are successful.
[…] to sign him. Liverpool are also keen on Sanchez, and wanted to take him to Anfield as part of the Luis Suarez transfer, but Spanish media are reporting that the striker’s preference is a move to […]