By Melissa Reddy
The Uruguayan could have been lining up for the Gunners rather than the Catalans in Tuesday’s Champions League tie had the summer of 2013 turned out differently.
It was in the Melwood gym on August 9, 2013 where Luis Suarez reconsidered what would have been "a massive mistake."
That Friday morning, in the expansive workout area of the training complex, Steven Gerrard narrowed his eyes and bluntly asked the Uruguayan: "Do you really want to leave Liverpool Football Club for Arsenal? Or do you want to leave Liverpool Football Club for a mega team?"
Suarez listened intently as his captain explained why staying on Merseyside for another season and waiting for an offer from Barcelona, Real Madrid or Bayern Munich would be a smarter decision than accepting a move to north London that summer following a provocative £40,000,000 plus £1 bid.
As Gerrard detailed his reasoning, he drew parallels between the South American trading Liverpool for the Gunners to Fernando Torres's departure to Chelsea in January 2011. The Spaniard had felt like a "king" at Anfield before his switch sparked a swift disintegration of his relationship with the club's supporters.
"Do you want that?" enquired the midfielder. Suarez didn't, and moreover, Arsenal was not a destination he particularly coveted but one he pushed for out of "confusion and uncertainty." The conversation with Gerrard swayed the attacker's decision and ultimately helped shape his path to Camp Nou.
Since that talk amongst the exercise bikes and dumbbells, Suarez, who used to attend Nacional training aged 18 with a grey Barcelona rucksack, has recorded just three short of 100 goals. 31 of those were for the Reds in his final campaign at the club, in which he so nearly inspired a first championship in 24 years. Sixty six have been smashed in in 80 games as part of the best attack in world football alongside Lionel Messi and Neymar in the team that he has held in his heart - much like his wife Sofi - since he was a teenager.
Arsene Wenger, meanwhile, has been on the outside looking in wondering how much more formidable his side would've been had Gerrard not volleyed the thought of joining Arsenal out of the forward's head. As the former Reds skipper explained: "You've got a chance of beating anyone in the world with Luis Suarez in your team."
Credit: Goal.com
No comments:
Post a Comment