Suarez Joins Barcelona For £75 million

Posted by African Examiner Featured, Latest Headlines, News, Sports News Friday, July 11th, 2014

Liverpool have reached an agreement with Barcelona for the £75 million transfer of Luis Suárez, the club confirmed on Friday.

Suarez moves to the Nou Camp for the full value of his exit clause following a second week of talks between the clubs, and the Uruguayan.

He will now undergo a medical in Spain next week before the transfer – a five year deal – is formally concluded.

A club statement said: “Liverpool FC confirms that Luis Suarez will be leaving the club after a transfer agreement was reached with FC Barcelona. The player now has permission to complete the usual formalities, which will then conclude the transfer.

“We would like to thank Luis for his contribution and the role he played in helping bring Champions League football back to Anfield.

Suarez released his own statement to the Liverpool supporters: “It is with a heavy heart that I leave Liverpool for a new life and new challenges in Spain. Both me and my family have fallen in love with this club and with the city.

“But most of all I have fallen in love with the incredible fans. You have always supported me and we, as a family, will never forget it, we will always be Liverpool supporters.

“I hope you can all understand why I have made this decision. This club did all they could to get me to stay, but playing and living in Spain, where my wife’s family live, is a lifelong dream and ambition. I believe now the timing is right.

“I wish Brendan Rodgers and the team well for the future. The club is in great hands and I’m sure will be

Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers said: “Luis is a very special talent and I thank him for the role he has played in the team in the past two years, during my time at Liverpool.

“I think he would be the first to accept he has improved as a player over that period, along with the team and has benefited from being here, as we have benefited from him.

Suarez joined Liverpool from Ajax for £22 million in January, 2011 and instantly endeared himself to The Kop with skill, work rate and goals.

He was voted Player of the Year by his fellow professionals and football journalists last season after scoring 31 times – an accolade he probably would have won twice but for his ill-discipline on the pitch.

Sadly for the South American, he leaves the Premier League having left his mark on various disciplinary panels as well the limbs of some of his opponents.

Suarez was banned for ten games for biting Chelsea’s Branislav Ivanovic in 2013, while an early charge of using language ‘referencing the racial origin’ of Manchester United’s Patrice Evra led to an eight match ban and £40,000 fine in 2011. Suarez was also banned one match for making an obscene gesture to Fulham fans.