The Uruguay international is adamant that the
Reds promised to sell him if they failed to
reach the Champions League and has called on
Brendan Rodgers' side to keep their word
Luis Suarez has insisted Liverpool promised
him they would allow him to leave the club if
they failed to reach the Champions League -
read the full transcript from the explosive
interview he gave to the English media below...
Suarez on Liverpool's promise...
"Last year I had the opportunity to move to a
big European club and I stayed on the
understanding that if we failed to qualify for
the Champions League the following season I'd
be allowed to go," he told The Guardian . "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.
"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.
"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.
"They defended me, just like I defended them
on the pitch. The players have always
supported me and I'm grateful for that. It's
the same with the supporters. I got a great
reception at the weekend and I am grateful. I
don't think the supporters are angry – I think
they understand a player when he has the
ambition to triumph at the highest level.
"When you are at a club for as long as you are
together you stick up for each other but that
does not give the club the right to go back on
their commitment."
'I need to be playing in the Champions
League!'
"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
team-mates last season to get us there.
"It is not as if I am asking to move to a local
rival. And I would not consider moving to a
club outside the Champions League. I have
made my desire to move known in private
various times and now it feels like the time for
me to make it public.
"I have to put my career first. People say
Liverpool deserve more from me but I have
scored 50goals in less than 100 games and
now they could double the money they paid
for me.
"Liverpool will always be special for me: my
daughter was born here. [Last summer] was the
moment to show my loyalty to Liverpool and I
did. [Liverpool] gave me my chance in England
and stood up for me throughout my ban. I
know I have made mistakes in my time here
but I have apologised lots of times. This is not
about that. This is about the club having
agreed to something both verbally and in the
contract which they are now not honouring.
"People may accuse me of showing a lack of
loyalty but last season we told Liverpool there
was interest from a top European club but
they told me: 'We've got a new coach and
we're going to push for the Champions
League.'
"I spoke with Brendan Rodgers several times
and he told me: 'Stay another season, and you
have my word if we don't make it then I will
personally make sure that you can leave.'
"Liverpool is a club with a reputation for doing
things the right way. I just want them to abide
by the promises made last season. Some of [my
team-mates] say to me: 'We cannot understand
that if you have it signed that you can't
leave.'"
'One rule for Suarez, another for everyone
else...'
"I was asked a question: 'Would I want to play
for Madrid?' It's like anyone asked if they want
to change jobs and move to a bigger company.
Everyone aspires to the highest levels and all I
did was give an honest answer: 'Yes, I would.'
On the same day I gave that interview Pepe
Reina said the same thing about Barcelona and
nobody mentioned it. But if I do it then it
means I am disrespecting Liverpool. It has
always been the same: one rule for me and
another for everyone else.
"I had just arrived in Uruguay where the press
are very good to me because I am one of
theirs," he continues. "They asked me about
the press in England. What am I supposed to
say? Of course I don't like the fact that my
wife goes to the supermarket and there are
photographers. But I realise that the press
attention is the same wherever you go.
"My priority is Champions League football.
This is about me doing what is right for my
career at this moment in time."
Are Arsenal an option?
"Right now the Premier League is the biggest
and most important league. My record shows
that I'm not the kind of player who wants to
change clubs every season and I would have no
problem playing in England for many more
years. If we are just talking about the level of
the football and the way the supporters are
then it is an incredible league. Any player in
the world at the moment would like to play
here.
"I feel I have done enough to be playing in the
Champions League at this stage of my career.
Now there is an option for me to do that and I
want very much to take it. I went a long time
at Ajax without playing many games in the
Champions League. I am ambitious, I want to
be there."
'
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