• Premier League

Liverpool rule out Suarez sale

Liverpool have insisted that Luis Suarez is not for sale after the striker told a press conference in Uruguay that he wanted to leave the club.

A new translation of comments made by Suarez on Thursday suggested that the 26-year-old is keen to quit Anfield because he feels persecuted by the British media.

According to the translation, broadcast by Sky Sports News on Friday, Suarez claimed he had received excessive criticism for biting Chelsea defender Branislav Ivanovic during a 2-2 Premier League draw at Anfield on April 21.

He stated that he wanted to leave for "my family and my image".

But a Liverpool spokesman said that Suarez, whose Liverpool contract runs until 2016, has never expressed to the club that he wants to leave - and that the club do not intend to welcome offers.

The spokesman said: "Luis Suarez is not for sale. Neither Luis or his representatives have communicated these feelings directly to Liverpool Football Club.

"The club remains supportive of Luis and expect him to honour his contract. The club will not be making any further comment at this stage."

The striker, signed for £22.8m from Ajax in January 2011, was speaking at a press conference ahead of Uruguay's friendly with France in Montevideo on 5 June.

He was quoted as being heavily critical of the British media, but added that he had not received any offers from other clubs.

According to the translation, he said: "I don't feel comfortable here any more.

"My reason for leaving is not the money. If it were the money, I would have left already. It's my family and my image. It's a difficult moment for me. The coach and my colleagues know that the press didn't treat me well here.

"I am persecuted by the paparazzi all the time. I could not even go into the garden or the supermarket.

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

Suarez suggested that he made up his mind to leave Anfield after receiving heavy criticism and a 10-game ban for biting Ivanovic.

He said: "The straw that broke the camel's back was my mistake. It was my fault, I accept it. But again, they went too far.

"I don't have any offer yet. I don't know when I will leave - or even if I will finally leave or if I will stay. I don't know what will happen.

"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. And the team is aware of everything."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.