Arsene Wenger has been bombarded with questions about Arsenal’s ongoing talks with Liverpool regarding a fee for their star striker Luis Suarez, and the French boss believes that the Uruguayan, like any other incoming player, will have to respect the club’s values and culture.
Suarez has been one of the most consistent strikers in the Barclays Premier League, and has earned the reputation as one of the best players in the league. The Uruguayan has been influential on the pitch, but has also been involved in unnecessary controversy which has brought bad light to Liverpool as a football club. Suarez was accused of racism by Manchester United’s Patrice Evra, and was visibly caught biting the hand of Chelsea defender Branislav Ivanovic in fixtures against the respective clubs, both at Anfield. The new American owners have invested large sums of money to bring success, but are in a fix given Suarez’s consistent performances, only to be tempered by his aggressive outbursts. The bite on Ivanovic’s hand initiated a ten match ban from the Premier League, and the media pressure on the striker and his family had reached a boiling point. This led Suarez to announce that he would have to leave the club for the safety of his family.
Arsenal have been linked with a move for Suarez ever since making an initial £30 million bid in the midst of the pre-season tours at the start of the summer. The bid came out of the blue, as the Gunners had never been linked with the striker in the past. The only club to have been strongly linked with a move during that time were Spanish giants Real Madrid. Suarez welcomed rumors linking him to Madrid, and made it clear that if they came calling, he would be off to the Santiago Bernabeu. Madrid have since been quiet on the bid, as they are involved in a world record bid to buy Gareth Bale from Tottenham Hotspur.
According to Metro, Wenger has said that the club follow certain values which every player has to maintain.
Wenger said, “The values that are very important for this club have to be respected by every player, no matter where he comes from. That will be with every potential signing.”