• Football

Suarez bite victim branded a baby

ESPN staff
July 21, 2014
Luis Suarez was given a four-month ban for the incident © Getty Images
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Pavel Nedved has criticised Juventus defender Giorgio Chiellini for the way he reacted to being bitten by Luis Suarez during the World Cup - revealing also how the club tried to sign the former Liverpool striker two years ago.

Nedved, currently a board member at Juventus, said he could understand Suarez "to a certain extent," admitting similarities between himself and Suarez, who joined Barcelona this summer.

What he could not understand, however, was the way Italy international Chiellini responded, although he did praise him for accepting Suarez's apologies.

"To a certain extent, I can understand Luis," Nedved told Czech newspaper Denik Sport.

"I was very similar to him as a player, even though there are certain things I cannot approve of. In spite of this, I was furious with Chiellini's reaction.

"His reaction was babyish - showing the referee the bite marks. He then showed intelligence in the way he spoke during the days after and by asking FIFA to reduce Suarez's suspension."

While there was criticism from Nedved of a current Juventus player, there was only praise for one who might have been.

"[Luis] is a great player and I would have taken him to Juve in an instant," Nedved said. "In fact, we were about to get him two years ago and I was absolutely behind the move. He's a champion, that's all you need to say."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd
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