Liverpool Transfer News: Luis Suarez Staying At Anfield For "Affection Of The People"
TeamTalk. The striker has been heavily linked with a move to Arsenal recently and has been the subject of two failed bids by the Gunners, including one offer of £1 over £40 million. And it is that bid that has led to the Uruguayan clashing with his club, after claiming the Gunner's offer triggered a release clause in his contract, thereby allowing him to leave. Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers has ordered Suarez to train on his own away from the rest of the team in recent weeks and has also demanded that the 26-year-old apologises for trying to force through a move to Arsenal. The forward is currently in Japan on international duty with his country but has been quoted in Uruguayan newspaper El Observador as saying he could yet stay at Anfield - because of the supporters.
"For now, owing to all the affection of the people, I would be staying."The newspaper even goes on to make the remarkable claim that Suarez could sign a new contract at the Merseyside club, which would represent the sort of U-Turn that many never thought possible just a week ago. Then, in interviews with the Guardian and the Daily Telegraph, Suarez said:
"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. "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."But news that Suarez could be staying after all will be music to the ears of Liverpool fans, who will now hope one of this summer's more protracted transfer sagas is drawing to a happy conclusion from their perspective.