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Is Luis Suarez glad that Liverpool blocked his move to Arsenal?
Liverpool blocked Arsenal’s attempts to sign Luis Suarez last summer despite him pleading to leave. Looking back, is the striker happy with their decision?
Luis Suarez’s future was a hot topic for debate last summer, with the tempestuous Uruguayan pleading with Liverpool to let him leave Anfield for a club playing Champions League football.
With Arsenal making the required £40 million and £1 bid to activate his then release clause, the Anfield outfit fought tooth and nail to avoid the forward moving to North London.
Fast forward nine months and the situation is completely different. Suarez has signed a new contract at Liverpool, surely making him a much wealthier man, while his personal and team ambitions seem to be getting completed on Merseyside.
Like in horse racing where a horse and jockey work as a team, football is all about relationships. If there is the correct bond and camaraderie, short odds for Cheltenham at Betfair are likely.
Despite missing the start of the season through suspension after biting Branislav Ivanovic, the South American attacker heads the goalscoring charts in the Premier League and has a great chance to win the European Golden Shoe.
Liverpool look like a much more rounded side than 12 months ago, and look all but certain to finish in the top four and give Suarez the Champions League football that he so desires.
At the time of writing, Liverpool and Arsenal are level on the Premier League table on 59 points with identical records, with Suarez’s current side ahead of goal difference.
Given the 5-1 mauling that the Reds handed out to Arsene Wenger’s men and their momentum since, there is every chance that the Merseysiders will finish ahead of the Gunners come May.
Mesut Ozil has suffered at the hands of eagle-eye critics after his big-money move to Arsenal, and Suarez would surely have been subject to just as much critiquing had he jumped ship for a similar fee.
However, despite his past misdemeanors, the player is loved by the fans at Liverpool, respected by the rest of the coaching staff and seems set to be the figurehead of bringing one of England’s most historic clubs from mediocrity back into silverware contention.
