Liverpool’s Luis Suarez still in Real Madrid’s sights

Liverpool’s Luis Suarez still in Real Madrid’s sights

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Speculation over a possible departure from Anfield by controversial Uruguayan striker Luis Suarez has intensified over the summer, despite having signed a long-term contract with Liverpool before the start of last season which would see him through to the summer of 2016. Top among the possible destinations for the player is Real Madrid, reports suggest.

Suarez himself has stated his desire to leave the northern English city on numerous occasions since the beginning of the summer, citing both the English media’s intrusion into his private life, and his inability to play in this season’s UEFA Champion’s League, due to Liverpool’s failure to qualify, as reasons.

As a result of these public statements of discontent, Liverpool bosses blasted Suarez, with coach Brendan Rodgers accusing him of “total disrespect” for the club, and owner John Henry denying him the possibility of leaving. Unexpectedly, just before the start of this season, the relationship seemed to have improved, and there were even discussions of a contract extension, but recent reports suggest the reconciliation has been short-lived.

Both Real Madrid and Premier League rivals Arsenal showed an interest in signing the talented forward over the summer but ultimately failed in turning it into something concrete, despite Real supposedly having a verbal agreement with an agent to sign Suarez for a fee of approximately €45 million, according to Spanish sports daily, Marca. Ultimately, the purported operation fell through, mainly due to the financial burden of bringing Gareth Bale to the Bernabeu for a record-breaking €100 million. As reported this week in Marca, Los Blancos may be preparing a second assault on the Liverpool star, spurred on largely by his top position among Madrid manager Ancelotti’s transfer targets.

26-year-old Suarez spent four seasons at Ajax before transferring to Liverpool and has just begun his fourth season at Anfield, having completed a 10-match ban for an incident last season in which he bit Chelsea defender Branislav Ivanovic. This has been the latest in a string of controversies surrounding the player, who was also suspended for a much-publicised racist outburst against Patrice Evra, as well as openly admitted to diving.

The recent biting fiasco was not the first of its kind for the Uruguayan, who was involved in an identical situation three years ago while playing for Ajax which cost him a seven match suspension. Suarez left the Dutch club during the suspension period to head for Anfield, a deal which cost the English club €26.5 million and which constituted Liverpool’s most expensive signing at the time, albeit only for a few hours, as he was surpassed by Andy Carroll that very same day for €42 million. Liverpool made up some of its losses with the sale of Fernando Torres, that very evening, to Chelsea for €60 million.

If the rumours prove to be true, Reds’ coach Rodgers will likely be reticent to let Suarez go, as he has been in superb form so far this season, having scored 8 goals in 6 games since his comeback, and recently scoring his fourth Premier League hat-trick, his first in Anfield, giving him “the best rate of all 46 players to have scored more than one treble”, according to the BBC.

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