---
title: "A Saga Too Far"
canonical: "https://readliverpoolfc.com/articles/a-saga-too-far/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Jack Widnell"
section: "Articles"
published: "2013-08-10T10:57:51Z"
modified: "2013-08-23T17:35:25Z"
---

# A Saga Too Far

Controversy has never ventured too far away from Luis Suarez during his time at Liverpool, in-fact, it’s been virtually synonymous with the Uruguayan since his £22.8m move from Ajax in January 2011.

The latest saga surrounding him though is of a different nature. It came as little surprise to many that Luis Suarez wanted to leave Liverpool this summer after the club failed to qualify for the Champions League for the fourth consecutive season. His latest interview with The Guardian and The Telegraph, publicly expressing just quite how eager he is to move away from Anfield, has resulted in Suarez placing his eggs in one basket and burning bridges with the supporters that have tirelessly stood by the man who has dragged the name of Liverpool Football Club through the dirt for the last two-and-a-half years.

There is no denying that Luis Suarez is by far my favourite player to have played for Liverpool Football Club during my lifetime – unpredictable, feisty, often frustrating, but ultimately, nothing short of an absolute genius. His talent has been evident since day one and he would improve any team in world football.

Throughout his career, he has always prioritised his own needs ahead of his club’s or anyone else’s for that matter. Sadly, this is modern football – player power is strong and there is a distinct lack of humility for the clubs they represent. But why *should* a man born in Salto, Uruguay have such an affiliation for the club he has spent the second-least amount of time at during his career? I don’t believe he should. But what he should show is respect.

This is a club that supported him above and beyond during the darkest moments of his career. A club whose then manager, Kenny Dalglish, laid his reputation on the line to clear his name and maintain his innocence. A club that could have so easily hung him out to dry after being found guilty of racially abusing a fellow professional to protect its image and sell him on. But they did not. The unified support from everyone connected with the football club has been second-to-none.

I am able to sympathise with Suarez’s current situation to some degree. Undeniably deserving of playing amongst Europe’s elite, Liverpool gave their word twelve months ago that should the club fail to qualify for the Champions League, that they would allow him to depart from the club. In hindsight, Luis Suarez and his agent’s failure to secure a legally binding clause guaranteeing this may well be their own downfall, but nonetheless, his point is still valid.

Nobody can fault El Pistolero for effort last season or at any point during his Liverpool career. In-fact, Suarez came across as the most determined player in the Liverpool squad. It’s his work-rate and determination, coinciding with his ability that made him such a popular figure amongst supporters. He fought tirelessly to win matches virtually single-handedly on many occasions last season and now he wants Liverpool to honour their agreement.

To that, I say ‘fair enough’. But whilst Suarez may be keen to make a swift exit from the club, he has fallen victim to being the second-choice target for the top teams such as Bayern Munich, Barcelona and Real Madrid, whom have subsequently secured their primary targets.

He gave his all, and he should be allowed to leave as is his wish. What he needs to understand though is that the club will let him go, but it has to be for the right price. Unfortunately for Luis, the only key legally binding piece of information in his contract is that it expires July 2016.

Liverpool’s position subsequently remains unchanged. Despite the provocative nature of the interview, nothing new has really emerged. The club and supporters were already more than aware of his eagerness to leave and the timing of owner John Henry’s latest interview suggests they were prepared for Suarez to publicise his desire to exit. Nonetheless, FSG, Brendan Rodgers and co. are in a tricky position.

The price for Suarez is going to have to be in excess of £50million, but even with those funds available for reinvestment, there is hardly a queue of top players waiting to secure a move to the 7th best club in English football, especially one that has just sold their star player. The main point to ponder is are Liverpool able to bring in sufficient replacements should they allow Suarez to move, especially if that move is to Arsenal?

Ultimately, Luis Suarez’s desire is to be playing in the Champions League. Whether he’s worthy of  playing amongst Europe’s elite or not, his aim is to be playing in that competition, and currently, only Arsenal are able to offer him that avenue.

Suarez mentioned in the interview that he is not looking to join ‘local rivals’, local they may not be, but whilst many Arsenal fans may dispute it, their club are rivals to Liverpool. Liverpool’s aim is to be in the top-four and as it stands, Arsenal are by far the weakest team in that bracket, therefore they are rivalling each-other for that position.

A lot of people may be sceptical of Arsenal’s ability to challenge for honours, and rightly so in my opinion, but  Luis Suarez is exactly what Arsenal have been missing for years now and underestimating the influence he can have on a teams’ performance would be incredibly naïve given how he carried Liverpool for the best part of five months last season. Selling to Arsenal not only weakens us immensely, but it enhances Arsenal’s squad so much to the point that they may well be uncatchable.

A questionable theory is that Luis Suarez never really fit into Rodgers’s post-Christmas philosophy at Liverpool. Despite being the most talented player at the club by far, since the arrival of Daniel Sturridge and Coutinho from Chelsea and Inter respectively, Suarez was very much a tough fit for Rodgers’s style. Often he lost possession in key areas or tried to do too much on his own.

If Liverpool were able to attract the appropriate players to replace Suarez, I would have no qualms about selling him to anyone. But despite Liverpool’s ambition this summer, it appears that the club has been knocked back by a number of players whom they wanted to sign for not having Champions League football.

The ball is now in Liverpool’s court as we await to see how the club will respond to Suarez making such a desperate plea to be let go. What can be derived from Suarez’s latest comments is that he has all but ended his relationship with the Liverpool supporters, who even up until last weekend, still supported him and were willing to forgive, evident from the rapturous reception he received as he came on as a substitute for Iago Aspas.

Whether it’s this summer, January or next summer. What is clear is that Luis Suarez’s days as a Liverpool player are numbered.