Liverpool have agreed to sell striker Luis Suarez to Barcelona for a fee thought to be about £75m.
The Uruguayan, 27, who is
serving a four-month ban
for biting Italy's Giorgio Chiellini during the World Cup, will sign a five-year deal.
Suarez, who scored 31 league goals last season, will travel to the Spanish club next week for a medical.
"Luis is a very special talent and I thank him for the role he has played," said Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers.
Suarez - last season's Premier League top scorer and
winner of the PFA and Football Writers' Player of the Year awards -
signed for Liverpool from Ajax in 2011 for £22.7m, and had four years
left on his contract.
Suarez says he and his family will "always be Liverpool supporters"
The move to Barcelona takes him closer to his wife Sofia's family.
"I hope you can all understand why I have made this
decision," said the striker, who is banned from "all football-related
activity" until the end of October as he serves his third suspension for
biting an opponent.
"This club did all they could to get me to stay, but
playing and living in Spain, where my wife's family live, is a lifelong
dream and ambition. I believe now the timing is right."
Luis Suarez controversies |
|
|---|---|
|
June 2014 |
Banned for four months from any football-related activity,
plus nine international matches, for biting Italy defender Giorgio
Chiellini |
|
April 2013 |
Apologises for biting Chelsea defender Branislav Ivanovic and receives a 10-game ban |
|
Dec 2011 |
Given eight-match suspension and fined £40,000 for racially abusing Manchester United's Patrice Evra |
|
Nov 2010 |
Given seven-match ban for biting PSV Eindhoven's Otman Bakkal on the shoulder while playing for Ajax |
|
July 2010 |
Handles on the line to deny Ghana a winner in the last
minute of extra-time in the World Cup quarter-finals. Asamoah Gyan
misses the resulting penalty and Uruguay win the shootout to reach the
semi-finals |
Suarez thanked the "wonderful" Liverpool fans in a letter -
tweeted from his account
- for supporting him "in good times and bad".
When he is eventually eligible to play again, Suarez is
expected to wear the number nine shirt in a formidable Barcelona front
line including Argentine Lionel Messi and Brazilian Neymar.
The club is looking to rebuild under
new coach Luis Enrique
after its first season without a major trophy in six years.
If the transfer fee is confirmed at £75m, it will be
the third biggest in football history after Gareth Bale (£86m Tottenham
to Real Madrid, 2013) and Cristiano Ronaldo (£80m Manchester United to
Real Madrid, 2009)
"It is with a heavy heart that I leave Liverpool for a new life and new challenges in Spain," said Suarez.
"Both me and my family have fallen in love with this
club (Liverpool) and with the city, but most of all I have fallen in
love with the incredible fans.
"You have always supported me and we, as a family, will never forget it. We will always be Liverpool supporters."
In his statement, released on Liverpool's official
website, Suarez concluded: "Thank you again for some great moments and
memories. You'll Never Walk Alone."
The transfer means Liverpool do not have to deal with the fall-out from a Suarez suspension for the second season running.
They supported the player after another biting attack -
on Chelsea's Branislav Ivanovic at Anfield in April 2013 - which led to
a 10-game ban, and he
signed a new contract in December.
"The club have done all they can over a sustained period of time to try to keep Luis at Liverpool," added Rodgers.
"It is with great reluctance and following lengthy
discussions we have eventually agreed to his wishes to move to Spain for
new experiences and challenges. We wish him and his young family well;
we will always consider them to be friends."
Suarez in stats (Opta) |
|---|
|
43: Involved in 43 goals in 2013-14 season (31 goals, 12 assists), more than any other player in the top five leagues. |
|
92: Only Robin van Persie (103) has scored or assisted more Premier League goals than Suarez (92) since his debut |
Suarez leaves Liverpool having scored 82 goals in 133
appearances, but also serving two bans - he was given an eight-game
suspension in for racially abusing Manchester United's Patrice Evra.
He had tried to force a move away last summer,
prompting an ill-fated £40,000,001 bid from Arsenal to trigger a release
clause.
Meanwhile, Barcelona face a logistical conundrum
regarding his presentation as their player - usually done at the Nou
Camp which is opened up to fans - as his worldwide suspension extends to
entering any football ground.
They are permitted to buy and sell players this summer
after football's governing body Fifa suspended its 14-month transfer ban
on the club
pending an appeal.
Barcelona were given the 14-month suspension after
being found to have breached rules on signing international players
under the age of 18.
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