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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