Liverpool captain Steven
Gerrard believes it would
have been a mistake for Luis
Suarez to join Arsenal.
The Uruguayan was the
subject of intense interest from Arsene Wenger's side
last summer as they attempted to trigger a release
clause in the striker’s contract.
After a prolific final season at Anfield in which he
topped the Premier League scoring chart with 31
goals, Suarez has sealed his move to Barcelona and
Gerrard says he always felt the striker was destined
for either Camp Nou or Real Madrid.
“I would have been really sad and disappointed to see
Luis go to Arsenal,” the 34-year-old told reporters.
“With all due respect to them, I said to him that he was
too good for Arsenal. I said if you score 30 goals for
us and win the PFA Player of the Year, the press
Player of the Year – I knew he was going to win them
– I told him Real or Barcelona will come for you.”
“I think he got the wrong advice last year from people
around him, from people saying he needed to play in
the Champions League and it did not matter who it
was for.
“A lot of people might still think he should have given
us one more, but my big dream was to play for
Liverpool, and the foreign players’ big dream is to
play for Real Madrid or Barcelona, that’s a fact.
“His wife is from Barcelona and I don’t think you can
begrudge a player like that, who has worked so hard
for his dream. You can’t go against him when he says
he is leaving for Barcelona.
“His dream from the first day he came was to play for
Real Madrid or Barcelona. Last summer when he was
out in the cold and training on his own that’s the
conversation I had with him. I said, 'Dn’t go to
Arsenal’.”
Brendan Rodgers’ side finished second in the Premier
League last term, pushing champions Manchester City
all the way to the final game.
And despite losing Suarez, Gerrard thinks Liverpool
are capable of launching another assault on the
Premier League summit.
“Last year we were in it until the end and that has
given us the belief that we are genuine title
contenders,” he said.
“I believe if we had Luis Suarez we’d be favourites.
“I’m disappointed to see him leave now but I am
happy for him that’s he has got what he wants and
deserves. Since day one he has been phenomenal in
training every day and in the games.”