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BARCELONA – Barcelona struck a deal on Friday to buy Uruguayan star striker Luis Suarez from Liverpool, sealing the transfer despite an uproar over him biting a World Cup rival.
Despite the furor that saw him sent home from the World Cup, Barcelona pushed ahead to sign the 27-year-old goalscorer reportedly on condition he apologize for biting Italian defender Giorgio Chiellini.
(RELATED: Uruguay’s Luis Suarez – talented footballer, own worst enemy)
The Spanish club said in a statement on Friday they and Liverpool “have reached an agreement for the transfer of Luis Suarez”, but declined to say how much they paid.
Spanish newspapers reported that Barcelona paid 81 million euros ($110 million) for the player while British media put the sum at £75 million (94 million euros).
The player said a sad farewell to fans of the English club, whom he helped fire to second place in the Premier League last season, sending them into the Champions League.
“It is with a heavy heart that I leave Liverpool for a new life and new challenges in Spain,” he said in a statement published by Liverpool.
“This club did all they could to get me to stay, but playing and living in Spain, where my wife’s family live, is a lifelong dream and ambition. I believe now the timing is right.”
The Spanish side said Suarez “will be traveling to Barcelona next week for a medical, to sign his five-year contract and to be officially presented to the media and fans as an FC Barcelona player.”
Prolific scorer
Suarez’s signing furnishes the Catalan club with one of the most formidable strike forces in the world as he joins two other superstar forwards – Argentina’s Lionel Messi and Brazil’s Neymar.
Barca’s new coach Luis Enrique is overhauling the squad after a disappointing season in which they narrowly failed to defend their Spanish league title.
Barcelona were seduced by the goalscoring record of Suarez, who was the top scorer in England’s Premier League last season with 31 goals.
“Luis Suarez is one of the most productive strikers in European football,” the club said.
“He also has a strong competitive spirit and a powerful figure, and he’s coming to Barca in search of even more.”
Suarez bit Chiellini on the shoulder on June 24 in a 1-0 win over Italy which took Uruguay into the World Cup last 16 before they were knocked out by Colombia.
He was handed a four-month ban from all football activities, suspended from nine international matches and fined 100,000 Swiss francs ($112,000).
It was the third time in his career he had been found guilty of biting an opponent.
He apologized in a Twitter message on June 30.
FIFA on Thursday dismissed his appeal over the ban but said he could still appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).
If FIFA’s ban is upheld, Suarez will not play football again until late October, well after the Spanish league restarts.
‘Near-record fee’
The reported fees would make Suarez one of the most expensive players ever.
Barcelona’s fierce rivals Real Madrid smashed the transfer record in 2009 when they paid Manchester United 94 million euros to sign Cristiano Ronaldo.
They also reportedly paid more than 90 million euros to buy Welshman Gareth Bale from Tottenham last year.
In recent months Barcelona have said goodbye to stalwarts such as Carles Puyol, goalkeeper Victor Valdes and midfielder Cesc Fabregas who has gone to Chelsea, and have made several new signings.
These include two new goalkeepers, Claudio Bravo and Marc-Andre Ter Stegen, and Croatian midfielder Ivan Rakitic.
Barcelona on Thursday completed the sale of Chile’s World Cup star winger Alexis Sanchez to Arsenal for a reported fee of around £35 million. – Rappler.com
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