• Premier League

'Happy' Suarez says he is staying at Liverpool

ESPN staff
March 18, 2012

Luis Suarez has moved to end any speculation over his future by declaring that he wants to stay at Liverpool this summer.

Suarez has recently been linked with a move to PSG, who named the Uruguayan among their top two transfer targets. Kenny Dalglish later tried to cool speculation, but he was clearly irritated by the suggestion that one of his best players might leave the club.

It has been a turbulent first full season for Suarez in England, after he was banned for eight matches when found guilty of using racially abusive language towards Patrice Evra. A subsequent high-profile decision to ignore a handshake with Evra brought further unwanted attention to the striker.

However, on the pitch Suarez has been superb for the Reds, tormenting defences en route to Carling Cup success for the Anfield club. And, asked if his troubles with the FA might tempt him to leave Liverpool, Suarez declared he plans a long future at the club.

"I would like to stay. Despite everything that happened, I'm happy here, on and off the pitch... and at the club they're happy with me and want me to stay," Suarez said in an interview with El Pais.

"I have a contract until 2016 and they already want to renew it for me. The coach (Kenny Dalglish) still believes in me and that's very important, especially after having been out for eight matches."

Suarez is yet to put the Evra fallout in the past, however, clearly still feeling that he was painted as the villain. The Uruguayan, who has always maintained his innocence, insists he was treated unfairly.

"What hurts me is that I was at the trial and there was no concrete proof. It was simply my word against that of the other player and they believed him. That hurt me a lot," Suarez stated.

"I've already played in other countries, a lot of people know me and I've shown who I am. I don't think I deserve to have been treated as I was."

One problem that might fall Liverpool's way is Suarez's potential involvement at the London 2012 Olympics. The striker does not know if he will be allowed to go by his club due to the potential effect it would have on the start of the season, but admits he would love to participate.

"If we were playing the Champions [League] it would be highly unlikely they'd let me go but now we're a long way from achieving that. The [Premier League] championship starts in the middle of August, I don't know if they'd let me go. I haven't talked about it at all with the club."

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