Liverpool striker Luis Suarez says he's ready to leave England, and admits 'turning down Real Madrid would be difficult'
Liverpool striker opens door to Madrid, as 'unfair' and personal criticism is hurting his family
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Your support makes all the difference.The Liverpool striker Luis Suarez has admitted he is "tired" of life in England and is eager to move abroad to get away from what he sees as press persecution. He added that he had already informed his manager, Brendan Rodgers, of his feelings.
In an astonishing interview in his native Uruguay, Suarez said: "I love being in Liverpool, I am happy in Liverpool but the treatment I have received in the last weeks and months, aside from the fact that it is an error that I committed, and accepted that I had done wrong and came out and apologised, but they [the press] have talked about things that have nothing to do with the thing that I did.
"I have been hit from all sides and I'm only human. They have ended up talking about the way I look and it hurts. I have a family and they suffer too. It has gone over the limit and I am tired of it. I have a wife and child too and I am not prepared to go on putting up with it English journalists. If there is the chance to play somewhere else..." He added: "I have spoken to Brendan Rodgers. He knows what I want and he understands my situation. "
Suarez is currently back in Uruguay preparing for next month's Confederations Cup despite currently serving a domestic 10-match for biting Chelsea defender Branislav Ivanovic but is eligible to play for his country in the Brazil tournament.
Real Madrid have been linked with an approach for the 26-year-old this week, with Manchester City also believed to be monitoring his situation.
After holding previous talks with Rodgers, Suarez has insisted he was happy to stay at Liverpool in spite of their failure to qualify for the Champions League next season. However, in the interview with Uruguayan radio station Sport 890AM that was broadcast today, he admitted for the first time that the furore which has surrounded him in the aftermath of the biting incident and last year's eight-match ban for racially abusing Patrice Evra could force him to leave the Premier League.
"Everyone knows I have a contract but turning down Madrid would be difficult," he said.
Suarez still has another three years of his contract still to run after joining from Ajax for £24m in January 2010. He scored 23 Premier League goals before being suspended for the rest of the season following the biting incident against Chelsea on 21 April but faces the prospect of another five matches on the sidelines before he can feature again next season.
Tonight, his agent Pere Guardiola put the comments down to frustration and said: "He is fine at Liverpool but recent times have been tough for him. There is nothing more in it."
Meanwhile Pepe Reina's return to Barcelona has moved a step closer with the player admitting an offer to move back to the Nou Camp and replace the departing Victor Valdes would be too good to turn down. Reina tops Barcelona's shortlist of replacements for Valdes, who is expected to join Monaco, and when asked about a move to Spain, the Liverpool goalkeeper said: "It would be very difficult to say no to Barcelona."
The 30-year-old started his career at the Camp Nou, where he came through the ranks alongside Valdes and made his debut at just 18. The son of the former Barcelona goalkeeper Miguel Reina, he was sold to Villarreal two years later before signing for Liverpool in 2005. "I am happy at Liverpool – I would only leave to go to Barcelona," said Reina.
He has been identified along with Borussia Mönchengladbach's Ter Stegen and Valencia's Vicente Guaita as replacements for Valdes.
Liverpool will confirm the signing of Celta Vigo striker Iago Aspas next week, with the Galician side likely to be relegated from Spain's top flight this weekend. Aspas has been the top goalscorer for Celta this season with 12 goals and his buyout clause automatically drops to €7m (£6m) from €10m if the team go down.
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