Transfer Centre

Luis Suarez: 'Liverpool promised to let me go'

By Joe Fish, Reporter | 06 August 2013

Luis Suarez claims that Liverpool have gone back on their promise to let him leave Anfield this summer if they did not qualify for the Champions League in 2012-13.

Luis Suarez has claimed that he turned down a move to a Champions League club last summer with the understanding that Liverpool would allow him to leave, should they not finish in the top four of the Premier League in 2012-13.

The Uruguayan striker is trying to force a transfer away from Anfield, but the Reds, who finished seventh in the top flight last season, are reluctant to sell their star asset and have turned down an offer of over £40m from their English rivals Arsenal.

However, Suarez has told The Telegraph that Liverpool's refusal to accept the Gunners' bid goes against the promise that manager Brendan Rodgers made him during the 2012-13 campaign.

He said: "I am being accused of showing a lack of loyalty but last year I had the opportunity to move to a big European club and I stayed on the understanding that if we did not qualify for the Champions League the following season then I would be allowed to go.

"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'."

Suarez has also claimed that Liverpool are breaching their contractual agreement to allow him to leave this summer, and has threatened to take his case to the Premier League.