iaink

I dont think that had anything to do with it. The release clause was written into the contract extension he signed last year, and that was good business on Liverpools behalf. Barca of course knew about it as did Real, but once it became clear that he wanted to go to Barca they stopped competing for him to save face.

There was a lot of talk of loyalty to liverpool of course, just as there is with every potential transfer target, but everyone knew it was simply a question of money and time. Fair play to the club. They got him to stay an extra year and he helped get us into the promised land of the champions league. He was fantastic to watch, but realistically even when he came from the dutch league it was clear that Spain was his ultimate destination, and the club have managed to get a good price for potentially damaged goods, hes Barcas problem now.


Bite or no bite, it was only a matter of time before he was off. He was great to watch while it lasted, and now we find out just how good Brendan Rodgers is without a force of nature to get results for him.

iaink

I did?


A club is virtually always going to publicly back its players. Utd did it with Cantona, Arsenal with Adams etc etc. Examples of clubs ditching players due to disciplinary issues or off field events are vanishingly rare. Expecting Liverpool to behave any different to all the other clubs is unrealistic.

Apart from anything else it makes no business sense to write of a multimillion pound asset that way, and legally I would think they have a responsibility to attempt to rehabilitate their employee anyway.

Now, it will be interesting to see what happens if he does it again... Barca have certainly taken a chance spending 75M on him, but I suppose at 27 years old after another 5 years that money is pretty much a write off anyway, a 32 year old Suarez is unlikely to be worth a huge amount even if he doesnt get himself banned again.

Scouse Express

Big Whip-Round in the Blue Nose Pubs of Wales, then

Cainess

Completely agree. There was never any chance that Suarez wouldn't leave Liverpool if the asking price was met, and IMO in 75m the club have managed to do some very good business indeed- the guy may be a world-class striker, but there is a good chance that Liverpool have 'got his best years' (as with Torres) anyway, and his ongoing mental issues make him a potential time-bomb for Barca.

I'm still shocked that Barca have chucked Sanchez, basically presumably because they have got Suarez signed....Suarez can't play until Halloween, and I'd have thought a front four of Messi, Neymar, Suarez and Sanchez (as an attacking winger) would be enough to scare most opposition teams into submission before a ball was kicked....

Garbatellamike

Messi out of form, Neymar injured, Suarez banned and Sanchez sold - have they got anyone left?

SultanOfSwing

It sounds like they didn't think that one through very well ...

Gordon Barlow

I'm a bit late with this, but it's not too late to smile about it.

I met a fairy today who said she would grant me one wish.
"I want to live forever," I said.
"Sorry," said the fairy, "but I am not allowed to grant that type of wish."
"Fine," I said, "Then I want to die when England wins the World Cup."
"You crafty bastard!" said the fairy.