A top-notch Luis Suarez was not only a spectacle to behold; he was a gem to be acquired. Despite being embroiled in controversies, he remained one of the most sought-after strikers in the early 2010s. FC Barcelona’s triumphant campaign in 2015 had several factors going in their favor. As one of their key contributors, Suarez has revealed that he could have ended up with Joan Laporta’s rival! Many elements came into play, including the infamous World Cup biting incident.
However, the superstar chose the Catalan club, stating, “It was the aspiration I had for many years, and it became a reality.” The Uruguayan international recently shared how his remarkable tally of 30 goals in consecutive seasons for Liverpool caught the attention of Florentino Perez, who wanted to recruit him. This was a dry spell for Real Madrid, as they had not secured the prestigious UEFA Champions League title in 12 years.
That was when they showed interest in Luis Suarez, as he claims they were willing to part ways with him, according to the Uruguayan. Speaking on the La Mesa podcast, he said, “Before the 2014 World Cup, Real Madrid wanted to sign me, and everything was in motion… They were planning to sell Benzema to Arsenal; it was a done deal.” Other reports suggest that Real Madrid began showing interest in Suarez in 2013.
Luis Suarez admitted that it would have been “extremely difficult to turn down Real Madrid,” but suddenly, his beloved team, Barcelona, entered the race. Meanwhile, Real Madrid was reveling in the performances of Cristiano Ronaldo, and Karim Benzema played second fiddle to the Portuguese sensation.
Therefore, Carlo Ancelotti might have thought it was best to offload Benzema to Arsenal. The London club was in need of a prominent striker after Thierry Henry’s departure and made multiple offers for Benzema. However, he remained in Madrid for a captivating spell, ultimately winning 5 more Champions League titles due to various factors.
Luis Suarez also revealed that the biting incident during the 2014 World Cup played a role. He further stated, “When the World Cup began, Barcelona joined the race, and obviously, I preferred Barcelona. With the biting incident, Madrid’s interest waned, and Barcelona became more interested… In the end, I had both options, and I chose Barcelona because it was my dream.” The player also expressed his gratitude to the Blaugrana.
He admitted that he nearly shed tears when he joined FC Barcelona. In addition to his dream coming true, he was overwhelmed with emotion that Luis Enrique trusted him despite the World Cup incident. Luis Suarez received a lengthy ban for biting Giorgio Chiellini.
But ultimately, everything turned out well for Luis Suarez, who went on to win the treble in the same season and multiple titles thereafter.
According to the Source essentiallysports.com