Liverpool striker Luis Suarez 'has the mentality of a child' says the man who brought him to Europe

Henk Veldmate signed the Uruguyan striker for Gronigen

Luis Suarez pictured training with Liverpool today (GETTY IMAGES)

Liverpool striker Luis Suarez has been accused of being like a child by his former boss Henk Veldmate.

Veldmate, who brought Suarez to Europe, said: "He’s a grown up person but also, in the way he likes playing football, he sometimes has the mentality of a child."

The Uruguay international signed for Veldmate’s club Gronigen from Nacional in 2006. The Dutch club’s sporting director added: “That's the way he enjoys playing. If you compare the mentality and attitude to Dutch players, then in South America it's dead or alive.

“To do the best for your family - it's a way of life and a way of surviving.”

Suarez, who recently bit the arm of Chelsea defender Branislav Ivanovic, is currently serving a 10 match ban for his misdemeanour - just the latest in a controversial career.

Speaking on Radio 5 Live’s documentary ‘What’s Eating Luis Suarez’, Veldmate said it took just 15 minutes to decide they had to sign the then 19-year-old.

He originally planned to watch another player when he travelled to Uruguay but was so taken with Suarez, there was an immediate change of plan.

“He had everything you see today - he scored a goal and did some fantastic dribbles,” Veldmate said.

“Sometimes you think he is lucky with his dribbles - he starts something and you think it is impossible but in the end it works and he creates a chance and scores a goal.

“He dived to win a penalty, so all the things we see in Luis' potential we saw in that 15 minutes and most importantly we saw he was a winner.”