Luis Suarez has stoked the fire over a possible exit from Liverpool by admitting he would find a move to Real Madrid "difficult" to turn down, while expressing his disappointment at the way he has been treated in England.
Suarez is currently serving a ten-match ban for biting Chelsea defender Branislav Ivanovic, which means he will miss the first six games of the next season, after having already sat out the final four games of this season.
The Uruguayan admitted he was becoming increasingly disillusioned by the way he has been targeted by the media, with the talented yet unpredictable striker in the news as much for his exploits with the ball at his feet as without it.
"I'm happy at Liverpool, I'm happy because of the fans," he told Uruguayan radio station Sport 890. "I made a mistake, I'm human, but they've talked about me in ways they shouldn't have.
"My family have suffered and things got out of hand. My daughter and my wife have suffered. I'm not prepared to continue to put up with the English press.
"I love Liverpool, but if there is a chance of playing somewhere else... I suffered too much as a kid to get where I am to be attacked unfairly by the English press.
"They haven't appreciated me as a player, they've just judged my attitude."
Suarez had a brilliant season for Liverpool and is now rightly regarded as one of the premier strikers in Europe. Real Madrid have reportedly shown a keen interest in the 26-year-old as the Spanish club look to bring in a prolific striker with Gonzalo Higuain expected to leave the club in the summer.
The former Ajax striker admitted he would be open to a move to Real. "I've talked to my agent, there's nothing concrete," he added. "To say no to Madrid would always be difficult and more so with the team they have.
"I have a contract with Liverpool, but it would be very difficult to say no to Real Madrid. There are a lot of rumors in the transfer period, but you never know until firm offers are made.
"I've talked to the coach (Brendan Rodgers), and he knows what I want. He was a player. Some of the players understand my situation -- enough said."
Liverpool have reportedly agreed a fee for Celta Vigo striker Iago Aspas and now Liverpool fans will be hoping the signing is not being made to compensate for the possible loss of Suarez to Madrid or some other club in Europe.