Luiz Suarez Won’t Leave Liverpool Until 2018
Liverpool’s ace striker, Luiz Suarez has signed a new contract with the club that extends his stay till 2018. The new contract results from swift negotiations between the Liverpool managing director Ian Ayre and Suárez’s agent, Pere Guardiola, in Barcelona earlier this week, and also involves an increase in wages from £120,000 to £200,000 making Suarez the highest paid Liverpool player ever.
The Uruguayan forward moved to Anfield in 2011 from Ajax and has scored 55 goals in 88 matches. He has also been the subject of several controversies on the field including an Eight-Game ban in December 2011 for racially abusing Manchester United’s Patrice Evra and a 10-match ban in April this year for biting Chelsea’s Branislav Ivanovic.
Suarez served the latter ban into this season and missed Liverpool’s first five matches. He has however scored 17 goals since his return, becoming the current highest goalscorer in the EPL this season.
Although the club has a reluctance to signing new contracts during mid-term spells, whom the principal owner John W Henry on behalf of the club’s owners, Fenway Sports Group, said: “We are committed to working hard to keep our best players and this is an indication that we are moving in the right direction and moving at a pace that impresses one of the best players in world football. The club has made major strides forward in recent years and we are all committed to delivering the success our supporters want and deserve.”
The 26-year-old said of his transfer: “I am delighted to have agreed a new deal with Liverpool and have my future secured for the long term.
“We have some great players and the team is growing and improving all the time. I believe I can achieve the ambitions of winning trophies and playing at the very highest level with Liverpool. My aim is to help get us there as quickly as possible.
“Without doubt the backing I have received from the Liverpool fans has influenced my decision. I am so proud to represent them and go out to do my best for them every time I pull on the shirt. We have a special relationship; they have love for me and in return I love them back. I will always do my best for them and hopefully we can achieve success together.”
The Red Devils’ manager, Brendan Rodgers while addressing the renewal on the club’s website said,”This is fantastic news for everyone associated with the club; the team, the owners and most importantly the supporters.
“Luis is a world-class talent and securing his services is crucial for what we are trying to achieve here.
“What’s most important and most exciting is that, at just 26 years old, his best years are still ahead of him and we now know we’ll be seeing him reach that potential in a Liverpool shirt.”
