Suarez explains why Arsenal move would have been ‘mistake’

Luis Suarez: 'Hurt' his daughter

Luis Suarez: 'Hurt' his daughter

Barcelona forward Luis Suarez says he’d have made a ‘massive blunder’ had he made a £40million-and-one move to Arsenal in the summer of 2013.

Arsene Wenger famously targeted the Uruguay international in the summer of 2013, making a calculated offer of £40,000,001 in the understanding that would trigger a release clause in his Liverpool contract.

However, the Anfield club stood firm, Arsenal refused to up their offer, and in the end Suarez packed his bags for the Nou Camp a year later when Barcelona agreed to stump up over £70m for his services.

Suarez thanked Steven Gerrard at the weekend for advising him to snub Arsenal, and with Barcelona heading to the Emirates tonight for the first leg of their Round of 16 encounter, he admitted again it was difficult to avoid the subject.

“It’s inevitable that people will talk about them trying to sign me, with us facing them in Europe,” he told the Daily Express.

“They are a big club, but it would have been very difficult to play for any team other than Liverpool in England.

“Barcelona was the right choice for me. Yes I have won the treble in my first season, but also my family are very happy in the city. Barcelona was the only choice for me, life is good.”

The Spanish giants are overwhelming favourites to progress towards the latter stages of the competition again this season, but Suarez diplomatically tried to build up Arsenal’s chances.

“We are not taking the challenge they are going to give us lightly,” he said, “Yes we are playing well and are confident, but Arsenal deserve a lot of respect and we must be focused in both games.

“Arsenal look like they have a very good chance of winning the league this season, they are one of the best teams in England.”