Suarez 'not for sale'
Liverpool released a statement on Friday asserting that star striker Luis Suarez is "not for sale", after the Uruguay international told media in his homeland that he wanted to leave the club.
Speaking at a press conference on Thursday evening, Suarez claimed he no longer felt "comfortable" at Liverpool due to harassment from paparazzi and the English media.
However, Liverpool said he had not expressed a desire to leave the club and added that they expected him to see out the long-term contract that he signed at the beginning of the 2012-13 season.
"Luis Suarez is not for sale -- neither Luis or his representatives have communicated these feelings directly to Liverpool Football Club," said the statement.
"The club remains supportive of Luis and expect him to honour his contract. The club will not be making any further comment at this stage."
Suarez finished as Liverpool's top scorer with 30 goals this season, but his campaign ended in disgrace after he was given a 10-match ban by the Football Association for biting Chelsea defender Branislav Ivanovic.
The 26-year-old claimed the media hysteria created by the incident had forced him to reconsider his future.
"My reason for leaving is not the money. If it were the money, I would have left already," he said during a media conference for the Uruguay national team.
"My main reason is my family and my image. That is my priority now.
"It is a difficult moment for me. The coach and my colleagues know that they (the English media) didn't treat me well here. I don't feel comfortable here anymore. They know it, so I think it is understandable that I leave."
He added: "Being persecuted by the paparazzi all the time, I couldn't go to my garden or the supermarket. I couldn't do anything."
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