Both Luis Suarez and Brendan Rodgers have released statements on Friday afternoon following the official confirmation that Liverpool have agreed to sell the Uruguay international to Barcelona.
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Liverpool thanked the 27-year-old for his contribution to the club during his three and a half years at Anfield, wishing him and his family well for the future.
Suarez himself took the opportunity to thank the fans of Liverpool for their support, adding that the opportunity to play in Spain has been a lifelong ambition of his.
“It is with a heavy heart that I leave Liverpool for a new life and new challenges in Spain,” he said. “Both me and my family have fallen in love with this club and with the city.
“But most of all I have fallen in love with the incredible fans. You have always supported me and we, as a family, will never forget it, we will always be Liverpool supporters.
“I hope you can all understand why I have made this decision. This club did all they could to get me to stay, but playing and living in Spain, where my wife’s family live, is a lifelong dream and ambition. I believe now the timing is right.”
Suarez also looked towards Liverpool’s future and predicts a bright one. He added, “I wish Brendan Rodgers and the team well for the future. The club is in great hands and I’m sure will be successful again next season.
“I am very proud I have played my part in helping to return Liverpool to the elite of the Premier League and in particular back into the Champions League.
“Thank you again for some great moments and memories. You’ll Never Walk Alone.”
Rodgers meanwhile took the opportunity to praise Suarez for his footballing talents and assured fans that the club did everything they could to keep him at Anfield.
“Luis is a very special talent and I thank him for the role he has played in the team in the past two years, during my time at Liverpool,” the Northern Irish manager said.
“I think he would be the first to accept he has improved as a player over that period, along with the team and has benefited from being here, as we have benefited from him.
“The club have done all they can over a sustained period of time to try to keep Luis at Liverpool. It is with great reluctance and following lengthy discussions we have eventually agreed to his wishes to move to Spain for new experiences and challenges. We wish him and his young family well; we will always consider them to be friends.”
Rodgers went on to look towards the future and the continued development of the club without Suarez.
He continued, “We are focused on the future, as we strive to continue with the progress we have made and build on last season’s excellent Barclays Premier League campaign.
“I am confident we will improve the team further and will be stronger for this coming season, when we will be competing on all fronts; domestically and in the greatest club competition in the world, the Champions League.
“If there is one thing the history of this great club teaches us, it is that Liverpool FC is bigger than any individual. I hope our supporters continue to dream and believe that we are moving forward and with continued improvement and progression, together we will bring the success we all crave and deserve.”
Suarez leaves having made 133 appearances for the Reds, scoring 82 goals.
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