Barcelona haven’t been put off in their pursuit of Luis Suarez by the Uruguay forward’s four month football ban, according to reports in Spain.
Suarez has been suspended for nine international games and four months from all football after biting Italy defender Giorgio Chiellini.
The ban means he won’t be able to return to action until late October but AS, Marca and Mundo Deportivo all claim that Barca still want to sign the Liverpool striker.
Indeed, the publications agree that Barca will look to use Suarez’s situation to their advantage and get their man for a lower price, with Marca putting the figure at €50m, down from the €80m contract clause.
It’s felt Liverpool are in a corner and have to make a decision over Suarez, particularly since this is only the latest indiscretion from the former Ajax captain.
But Barca are said to be concerned what another episode would do to their image, but feel playing for Barca could help rehabilitate Suarez’s standing.
It’s suggested by MD that Suarez’s Barca contract would contain clauses relating to the possibility of a repeat offence.
AS meanwhile point to Hristo Stoichkov’s Barcelona career as evidence the club will sign and support a player known for getting on the wrong side of officials, pointing to the incident with Urizar Azpitarte as proof.
