Luis Suarez admits he wanted Arsenal transfer and reveals why he was so passionate on move
Luis Suarez has admitted that he preferred Arsenal to Liverpool because they competed in the Champions League.
The Uruguayan talisman joins a long list of world-class strikers who have graced the club’s illustrious history.
Suarez would endear himself to the Anfield faithful during a three-year spell between 2011 and 2014, scoring 69 goals in 110 appearances before joining Barcelona.
But, as he explains, his time on Merseyside could have been cut short because he wanted to join the Gunners in 2012 to play in the Champions League.
Brendan Rodgers arrived that summer and, along with captain Steven Gerrard, persuaded him to stay with Liverpool.
He explained to UEFA’s official website: “I think I’d been at Liverpool for a year and a half when Brendan took charge in July 2012.
“Back then, I had opportunities to sign for other clubs who were getting in contact with me, but he phoned me when I was in Uruguay on holiday, to tell me that he had another way of thinking, that he wanted to change the club and its philosophy, that he wanted the club to get back in the Champions League and fight to win big trophies, that he was going to make the team play great football.
“He asked me to believe and trust him. I enjoyed that chat. I liked his conviction, the philosophy he wanted to implement at the club, so I talked to my agent and the club to say that I didn’t want to leave, that I wanted another opportunity to be successful at Liverpool.
“That year wasn’t as good as we wanted, but ideas were already pretty clear. So then the 2012/13 season goes by, and I wanted to sign for Arsenal, since Arsenal had played in the Champions League every season prior to that.”
Liverpool fell just short of winning the Premier League title in 2013/14, but Suarez’s performances drew the attention of Barcelona the following summer.
And the 34-year-old insists Gerrard was instrumental in persuading him to stay, predicting that a club of Barcelona’s stature would come calling if he continued on his upward trajectory at Anfield.
He added:
” I had some further discussions with the coach, as well as with Gerrard. He was the one that convinced me. I told him I wanted to keep being successful, that I wanted to play in the Champions League.
“So, he said to me, “If this year we keep improving as we have been, and you’re at the level you have to be, next year you’ll be able to play for Bayern München, Real Madrid, Barcelona, or whatever club you like. You’ll have the chance to choose, but stay for one more year.
“I remember that talk with Gerrard, and I remember everything the coach said to me. He texted me things like, “Stay for another year, just try it.” And, well, that was the year we were close to winning the Premier League. That’s thanks to the team efforts, obviously, but especially to the philosophy and conviction Brendan Rodgers conveyed to us as the coach.”
Luis Suarez admits he wanted Arsenal transfer and reveals why he was so passionate on move
