For the second summer transfer window in a row, Liverpool are at risk of losing one of their big stars, Luis Suarez. This year is a completely different story to last year though.
In June and July of 2013 it seemed Luis Suarez was being linked to every major club from Arsenal to Barcelona. It also seemed he wanted to move.
He spoke out, saying he wanted to play at the top level of club football, UEFA Champions League, after coming off his best season for Liverpool, scoring 30 goals in all competitions.
It looked a forgone conclusion when Arsenal put in a bid of £40 million plus £1, which apparently trigged a release clause in his contract. But John Henry, Liverpool owner, refused the bid as he later told a university in the United States.
Henry knew how much of a loss it would be to his club to lose a star player, but not only that but losing him to a near rival would extend the gap between the two. It was an unthinkable prospect for Liverpool.
Suarez’s preseason was spent sulking, and many questioned his attitude, especially when manager Brendan Rodgers sent him to train alone. However captain fantastic, Steven Gerrard, was once again at his club’s rescue – this time in an off the field capacity. Suarez later said the Reds captain was one of the main reasons he stayed.
Suarez missed the first five matches of the 2013/14 season due to a suspension carrying over from the previous season, where he bit Chelsea defender Branislav Ivanovic on the arm – his second biting offence in his career. He made his league return against Sunderland at the Stadium of Light, scoring a brace and reminding Reds fans why they love him despite his indiscretions.
Suarez would go on to score 31 goals in 33 appearances for Liverpool, including a 10-goal haul over the month of December and a four goal salvo against his favourite team to play against, Norwich City.
He headed into the 2014 World Cup in career-best form, before a knee injury cast a big shadow over his involvement in the tournament. Uruguay sorely missed him in their opening match against Costa Rica, where they lost 3-1.
He returned against England, a side he knew well with five of his Liverpool teammates lining up for them. His brace, including an unlucky assist by Steven Gerrard for his second goal, set up a do-or-die clash with Italy for second spot in pool D.
This game potentially changed Suarez’s career forever. He, for the third time, bit an opponent. This time Italian defender Giorgio Chiellini was his victim.
The referee took no action against Suarez on the pitch, but FIFA came down hard on the Uruguayan striker. He was banned for four months from all football activities – which means nine English Premier League matches, three UEFA Champions League matches and four international friendly matches – he is not even allowed into stadia to watch matches or train with his teammates. He was also ordered to pay a 100,000 Swiss Franc fine to FIFA.
He has since apologised to Chiellini via Twitter, with Chiellini forgiving the combustible striker and saying, “I hope FIFA reduce your suspension.”
It has been suggested that Suarez was forced to apologise by potential suitor Barcelona, and it makes sense with both the sporting director and club president coming out in recent days saying how “humble” Suarez is for doing so.
The situation has so many similarities to the Cesc Fabregas situation only a few years prior, where Barcelona employed very similar tactics in the public spotlight to lure the former Arsenal player.
Adding further to the weight of this story is the fact Liverpool and Barcelona officials met only a couple of days ago to start negotiating a move for possibly the biggest ticking time bomb in world football.
Looking back on the season just gone, it almost seems that Suarez’s performance was similar to your favourite band’s encore. After playing a rip roaring set (2012/2013 season) he came back on stage – after threatening to leave the club before the 2013/2014 season – and serenaded Reds fans with all your favourites and then some, leaving you wanting just one more song.
Whether Liverpool get that song is looking increasingly unlikely.
Liverpool is left asking possibly the hardest question in football, do you keep a genuinely world-class player who could explode at any minute? Or do they cash in and try and build a team that is not reliant upon an exquisite individual talent?
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