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On This Day: Liverpool accept Barcelona offer for Luis Suarez

On This Day: Liverpool accept Barcelona offer for Luis Suarez
© Reuters
It marked the end of the Uruguayan's eventful three-and-a-half year spell at Anfield.

Liverpool accepted a £75million offer from Barcelona for Luis Suarez on this day in 2014.

It marked the end of the Uruguayan's eventful three-and-a-half year spell at Anfield in which his brilliance on the field was often overshadowed by controversy.

At the time of his move to the Nou Camp, the prolific striker was just beginning a four-month worldwide ban for biting Italy's Giorgio Chiellini at that summer's World Cup in Brazil.

Soccer – Barclays Premier League – Cardiff City v Liverpool – Cardiff City Stadium
Suarez scored 82 goals in 133 appearances but also served bans for controversies involving Patrice Evra and Branislav Ivanovic (David Davies/PA)

He had previously served an eight-match ban for racially abusing Manchester United's Patrice Evra and a 10-game suspension for biting Chelsea's Branislav Ivanovic during his time on Merseyside.

In terms of his football, however, Suarez was outstanding for the Reds.

Signed from Ajax in 2011, Suarez scored 82 goals in 133 appearances for the club and was the chief inspiration in an outstanding 2013-14 Premier League campaign which almost ended in title glory.

He missed the start of that season due to one his bans but still netted 31 times as Liverpool finished runners-up to Manchester City by two points, narrowly missing out on what would have been a first league crown in 24 years.

Throughout that season, rumours linking him with Barcelona were rife, though, and a sale had looked inevitable for some time.

Liverpool had resisted Suarez's attempts to force a move to Arsenal the previous summer. The Gunners made an ill-fated bid of £40,000,001 in a failed attempt to trigger a release clause.

Barca could not be held off and, with "great reluctance" according to manager Brendan Rodgers, a sale was agreed.

"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," Suarez said. "I believe now the timing is right."

Suarez went on to score 198 goals in 283 appearances for Barcelona, winning four LaLiga titles and the Champions League. He won another league title after moving to Atletico Madrid last year.

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Takumi Minamino in action for Liverpool on January 23, 2020
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ChinaChina32211669
United StatesUnited States24282173
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AustraliaAustralia1441533
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Wednesday's key events


SKATEBOARDING
· Team GB starlet Sky Brown - aged just 13 - takes part in the women's park event and has a realistic chance of picking up a medal too. Bombette Martin is Britain's other representative, while hosts Japan are among the favourites for gold (1am)

HOCKEY
· Great Britain's women have more history in their sights heading into their semi-final against Netherlands - the team they beat in the 2016 gold medal match (2.30am)

ATHLETICS
· The men's 400m hurdles final on Tuesday will go down as one of the greatest Olympic races of all time, and the women will attempt to emulate that, with new world record holder Sydney McLaughlin of USA and Netherlands' Femke Bol the favourites for gold (3.30am)
· Nick Miller is Britain's representative in the men's hammer throw final (12.15pm)
· The men's 800m final could be a wide-open affair (1.05pm)
· A thrilling men's 200m final is in store as the likes of Andre de Grasse, Noah Lyles and 17-year-old sensation Erriyon Knighton bid to succeed Usain Bolt as Olympic champion (1.55pm)

SAILING
· After a medal-laden day on the water on Tuesday, Great Britain will be looking for more success, starting with Luke Patience and Chris Grube in the men's 470-class medal race (6.33am)
· Team GB also have medal hopes in the women's event, with defending champion Hannah Mills looking to retain her crown alongside new teammate Eilidh McIntyre (7.33am)

BOXING
· Already guaranteed at least a bronze, Great Britain's Frazer Clarke faces Uzbekistan's Bakhodir Jalolov in the men's super heavyweight with a place in the gold medal bout up for grabs (7.03am)
· Ben Whittaker is also guaranteed a medal, but will look to ensure that is either gold or silver as he takes on Cuba's Arlen Lopez in the light heavyweight final (7.35am)

CYCLING
· World records have been tumbling in the velodrome, and another could go in the men's team pursuit final as Italy - new world record holders themselves - face Denmark (10.06am)

EQUESTRIAN
· Three Brits have made into into the final of the men's jumping individual final, including fastest qualifier Ben Maher, who will bid to inherit compatriot Nick Skelton's Olympic crown (11am)

> Today's schedule in full
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