Luis Suarez: Liverpool '100% certain' striker will stay at Anfield

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Suarez not for sale - Liverpool MD

Liverpool managing director Ian Ayre says the club are certain striker Luis Suarez will remain at Anfield.

The 26-year-old is reported to have said he would consider leaving the club if a team playing in the Champions League were interested in his services.

But Ayre, asked whether he was 100% confident of keeping hold of the player, replied: "Yes, absolutely."

Ayre told BBC Radio 5 live to the Uruguayan "may have been a bit lost in translation".

He later told BBC Breakfast: "We love Luis being at Liverpool, he loves being at Liverpool and we fully expect him to be at Liverpool next season."

Suarez signed for Liverpool from Ajax for £22.7m in January 2011 and has scored 29 goals for the club this campaign.

But he is yet to play in the Champions League for the Reds and qualification for the tournament again looks unlikely this season.

Suarez is reported to have told a Uruguayan newspaper: "If another team comes around with more prospects of competing in international club competition games, which is willing to have [me], they are welcome.

"We would talk to the club, and we would see if I want to go [or] if I don't want to go."

But Ayre responded: "He has a four-year contract. We hope he will see it through."

Suarez, who signed a new deal in the summer, has been a controversial figure in the Premier League since his arrival.

In December 2011 he was banned for eight games by the Football Association after being found guilty of racially abusing Manchester United's Patrice Evra.

He has also attracted criticism for diving and stamping and ex-Liverpool director of football Damien Comolli hinted he could be driven out of England.

However, Ayre says Liverpool have no intention of letting their most valuable asset leave the club.

"We have no desire to sell Luis. He is a fantastic player and a great contributor to our team," he said.

"We have been honest with him and he has been honest with us and there will always be instances, particularly leading up to the summer, where people are quoted or asked these questions, but we are very pleased to have Luis and long may that continue.

"Every player will be approached by clubs because that is the nature of the game and every player has a choice."

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819 comments

  • ....and in other news, Douglas from the 'Lurpack' advert has melted..

  • Could somebody in the media/press please at least attempt to report accurately....the following statement is incorrect.

    ''In December 2011 he was banned for eight games by the Football Association after being found guilty of racially abusing Manchester United's Patrice Evra.''

    No he wasn't - he was never charged with 'racially abusing' Evra so how can he be found guilty of same?

  • No need to panic they still have Borini.

  • if he stays it shows loyalty and commitment, if he leaves it shows ambition and a drive to succeed. Win/win for Suarez, although i'm sorry to say that I think he ought to leave, simply for the sake of his career. Wouldn't be disastrous for Liverpool as they could replace him with a younger striker, just probably not another Carroll.

  • @1.jon7150
    Better than average player
    ++
    So the top goal scorer in PL is only better than average what does that make everyone else playing in the league?

  • "He has also attracted criticism for diving and stamping"

    Really? For stamping? I know the BBC love to drag up old stories and re-use them but dragging up criticism which really never existed?

    And rehashing the racism piece - do they finish every Rio Ferdinand story with "missed a drugs test" or every Rooney story with "Sent off for violent conduct for England"?

    Horrible journalism again.

  • He said he is very happy at Liverpool - again.

    I feel sorry for players when they are constantly questioned like this - and if they don't say anything, then of course it's 'well, he didn't deny he wanted to leave'.

    Gutter press.

  • He deserves Champions League football.

  • @475
    what! most players behave this way, im an afc fan but carzola clearly dived earlier this season, henry used his hands v ROI, rio shoved torres to the ground, bale goes over easy, young dives, terry is racist, fellani has done some wrong things this season, zidane spat, de jong plays kung fu, tevez falls out with everyone, rooney demands more money or he leaves, nasri ducks in a wall etc

  • Sorry BBC but you have written a 'Headline' article (if you could call it that) based on something from your own Gossip Column?This truly is a new low, employ some better staff not the morons you have at the minute. I'm assuming there will be another re run of the 'Bales is the 3rd greatest player in the world' after his game on Friday - Oh wait no, England are playing so thats the news for a week

  • 100%, really? That seems a bit high. Even Barcelona would not be more than 99% sure that Messi would be staying with them for next season.

    Hope this comment doesn't bite him on the bottom.

  • This is not a swipe at LFC before I go any further. Suarez does stick out like a sore thumb when he's in overdrive amongst the rest of the team. He is a top drawer player and with his gifted talent a good percentage is under utilised at the present time. If he moves I'm sure it will be a prestigious club who are currently enjoying success.
    It's a watch this space scenario.

  • Totally agree, hardly breaking news for a Liverpool fan. This happened last year and will happen every year. There is always talk of players leaving. If he does leave, it'll be for a large fee and he'll be replaced.

  • Steven Gerrard was about the same age when there were comments and stories every week linking him with a move to Chelsea or some other supposedly "bigger club".

    Suarez is playing better now than at any time in his career and I hope he'll see the future at Liverpool rather than jumping ship for the short-term promise of CL action.

  • Another non-story - whatever happened to quality journalism?
    Still another opportunity for the deluded to come on board with the "only history is from 1991" whine. Of course it is. Keep scoffing the prawn sandwiches.

  • "We don't want him at Chelsea" (in a whinging voice). Thats got to be the silliest comment yet. Anyway, Abramovich chooses the team and manager so irritating little fans won't get a look in,

  • If Suarez goes please can LFC be really careful this time and try not to pay a ton of money for someone who is injured and/or really second rate?

  • all this talk of suarez"s on field behaviour is laughable espec from man utd fans...you would have to be blind not to see his comittment to the cause,he never stops workin for the team and his goals speak for themselves.as for his dishonesty etc etc,well,all i can say is that the very best players have a bit about them and are touched by as much madness as greatness...excl messi of course!!

  • I think it is laughable that people think Suarez will stay because he loves Liverpool! Its a job to him, a job he loves doing. He enjoys his football i guarantee you he would love it at most teams! Everybody is built to want to better themselves and for him to do this he has to leave lpool to be playing Champs league! Its a job to footballers and i think alot of fans forget this at times !

  • Every player wants to win trophies but with only 3 possible in the domestic campaign and 2 possibilities in the form of europe
    whats happened to a players desire to help the team that THEY signed for,compete for these honours???

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