Suarez: Reds know I want to leave

31 May 2013 15:17

Liverpool are facing a major battle to keep hold of Luis Suarez after the striker admitted he no longer feels 'comfortable' at the club.

Suarez said he wants to leave because of "bullying" by the English media. Suarez, 26, speaking at a Uruguay national team press conference on Thursday night, said: "My reason for leaving is not the money - if it were the money, I would have left already.

"My main reason is my family and my image - that is my priority now. It is a difficult moment for me. The coach and my colleagues know that they (the English media) didn't treat me well here. I don't feel comfortable here any more. They know it, so I think it is understandable that I leave."

Referring to the English media, Suarez added: "Being persecuted by the paparazzi all the time, I couldn't go to my garden or the supermarket - I couldn't do anything.

"I know it is normal being followed by the press, but it was too much. All the silly things they said about me, all the pictures, all the taunts. That happened every day and nobody supported me.

"They talk about me being named as the best player in England, but I knew it wasn't going to happen because of the way they treated me."

Suarez, who is serving a 10-game ban for biting Chelsea's Branislav Ivanovic, went on to say: "The straw that broke the camel's back was my mistake (the Ivanovic incident). I accept it - my fault. But they went too far."

Suarez confirmed there had been no "offer" for him yet, and said he was unsure about when a move might materialise, if at all.

He said: "I don't have any offer yet. I don't know when I will leave or even if I will finally leave, or I will stay. The club knows what I think and what I want. I don't know what will happen, but I have a contract. If I stay, I will do my best here, but I don't think that will happen because of all the bullying from the press against me. The team is very aware of everything."

Suarez has scored more than 50 goals for the Reds in all competitions, and in 2012-13 - a season in which he netted 30 times - he made the shortlist for the PFA Player of the Year award, eventually won by Tottenham's Gareth Bale.

Source: PA